Elander, a catcher who has started all 60 games this season and is batting .316, was taken by the Atlanta Braves with the 21st pick of the sixth round (209th overall). One of two MW players named to the 2012 Capital One Academic Division I All-American team, Elander leads the Horned Frogs with 10 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 21 attempts.
Von Tungeln, an outfielder who is batting .301 with 10 doubles, five triples and a pair of home runs, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 13th round (408th overall). A second-team All-MW selection, Von Tungeln has driven in 24 runs this season while stealing 12 bases in 17 attempts.
Meanwhile, New Mexico junior right-hander Austin House, who helped lead the Lobos to their second consecutive MW Tournament title, was taken by the Oakland A's in the 14th round (439th overall). A unanimous first-team All-MW selection, House leads the league in innings pitched this year with 111.2. He finished the 2012 campaign with an 8-5 record in 16 appearances, posting a 2.74 ERA while striking out 91, the third-highest total in the Conference.
Fresno State, which will officially join the MW on July 1, had four players selected on Tuesday, including junior right-hander Justin Haley (6th round, Boston Red Sox, 211th overall); senior right-hander Taylor Garrison (7th round, New York Yankees, 247th overall); senior right-hander Cody Kendall (8th round, Texas Rangers, 276th overall); and senior left-handed pitcher Thomas Harlan (13th round, Pittsburgh Pirates, 406th overall).
Nevada, which will also join the MW on July 1, was represented in the draft by junior catcher Carlos Escobar, who was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 15th round with the 464th pick overall.
The draft concludes Wednesday with rounds 16-40. Coverage begins live at Noon ET on MLB.com. Juniors are eligible to return to their respective teams if they do not sign prior to the July 13th deadline.
Mick McGrane has covered the Mountain West since the league's inception in 1999. He spent 12 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune, where he served as the beat writer for San Diego State football and men's basketball. He currently represents the MW as a member of the Football Writers Association of America All-America Committee and is a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. McGrane serves as senior writer to the Mountain West, providing readers with exclusive, in-depth information about the Conference by highlighting its 10 member institutions and contributing feature stories on student-athletes that participate in the league's 18 sponsored sports.
Mark Knudson is a Colorado State journalism school graduate and a 12-year veteran of professional baseball. During his playing career, Mark pitched for three major league teams, including the Colorado Rockies, where he was the first Colorado native to play for the hometown team. He recorded wins over three of the four legendary pitchers who make up the 4,000 strikeout club: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. His win over Ryan came for the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day in 1991.
Leave a comment