Long Beach State University Athletics
Three Dirtbags Selected In Final Day Of MLB Draft
6/5/2019 4:30:00 PM | Baseball
Long Beach State has had multiple players taken in the draft every year dating back to 2001.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State had three players selected in the MLB Draft which concluded Wednesday, with Zak Baayoun picked by the Colorado Rockies, Dylan Spacke picked by the Red Sox, and Nick Avila picked by the San Francisco Giants.
Junior Zak Baayoun was the first player selected on Wednesday, picked in the 17th round by the Rockies with the 519th overall pick. Baayoun spent two years as a starter for the Dirtbags after playing a key role in the bullpen as a freshman during Long Beach State's run to the Super Regionals. A left-handed pitcher, Baayoun was an All-Big West selection as a starting pitcher last season, and continued as a starter this season, striking out 47 in 79.2 innings pitched.
Reliever Dylan Spacke was the next player picked from the Dirtbags, 647th overall in the 21st round from the Boston Red Sox. A three-year reliever, the right-hander had a strong season out of the bullpen, posting a team-best 2.57 ERA in 22 appearances, striking out 25 batters in 28.0 total innings while recording a team-high four saves on the year.
Finally, a third pitcher was picked in the 26th round as Nick Avila was the 776th overall pick by the San Francisco Giants. Avila moved into a role in the starting rotation and the season progressed, making seven starts in Big West play and posting a 3.19 ERA over those starts. He held opponents to just .224 hitting in league play and struck out 38 overall in his only season at Long Beach State after transferring from San Joaquin Valley College.
Long Beach State has now had multiple players selected in 19 consecutive drafts dating back to 2001.
Junior Zak Baayoun was the first player selected on Wednesday, picked in the 17th round by the Rockies with the 519th overall pick. Baayoun spent two years as a starter for the Dirtbags after playing a key role in the bullpen as a freshman during Long Beach State's run to the Super Regionals. A left-handed pitcher, Baayoun was an All-Big West selection as a starting pitcher last season, and continued as a starter this season, striking out 47 in 79.2 innings pitched.
Reliever Dylan Spacke was the next player picked from the Dirtbags, 647th overall in the 21st round from the Boston Red Sox. A three-year reliever, the right-hander had a strong season out of the bullpen, posting a team-best 2.57 ERA in 22 appearances, striking out 25 batters in 28.0 total innings while recording a team-high four saves on the year.
Finally, a third pitcher was picked in the 26th round as Nick Avila was the 776th overall pick by the San Francisco Giants. Avila moved into a role in the starting rotation and the season progressed, making seven starts in Big West play and posting a 3.19 ERA over those starts. He held opponents to just .224 hitting in league play and struck out 38 overall in his only season at Long Beach State after transferring from San Joaquin Valley College.
Long Beach State has now had multiple players selected in 19 consecutive drafts dating back to 2001.
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