Three Missouri Collegiate Players Taken on Second Day of MLB Draft
Three players who played collegiately in Missouri were selected on Day 2 of the 2016 MLB Draft.
The state of Missouri, particularly on the eastern side of the state, hasn’t been represented quite as heavily as it has been for the past few years through 10 rounds of the 2016 MLB Draft.
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While high school players from the western side of the state were the only Missouri players taken during Thursday’s opening rounds, three players who spent their collegiate careers at schools in Missouri were taken during rounds 3-10, which took place on Friday.
Joey Lucchesi, a senior lefthanded pitcher from Southeast Missouri State, was the first collegiate player from Missouri to come off the board, as he was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 4th round at pick 114 overall. Lucchesi, a native of Newark, California, spent the last two seasons of his college career at SEMO after transferring from Chabot College in California. Lucchesi, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, was the ace of SEMO’s staff in 2016, going 10-5 with a 2.19 ERA, .234 opponent batting average, 149 strikeouts, and 37 walks in 17 appearances (16 starts).
Sam Perez, a senior righthander from Missouri State, was the next collegiate player from Missouri to come off the board in the 5th round, at pick 143 overall, being selected by the Miami Marlins. Perez, a native of Branson, Missouri, had a breakout senior year. In 36 relief appearances, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder had a 2.86 ERA, .196 BAA, 112 strikeouts, and 35 walks. Perez made just one start during his college career, and the odds certainly would seem to favor him being a reliever as he turns pro.
Next: Cardinals Take SS Delvin Perez at Pick 23 in First Round
The final college player to be drafted out of Missouri was Mizzou shortstop Ryan Howard, who was selected in 5th round at pick 155 by the San Francisco Giants. The junior shortstop, a 6-foot-1, 192-pounder, hit .295/.381/.433 with five homers and 27 RBI this season for the Tigers. This is the second straight year that Howard, a graduate of Francis Howell Central high school in St. Louis, has been drafted by the Giants. They took him in the 31st round last year but didn’t sign him.