Seven East stars get pro ball call
- Updated: June 14, 2017
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— Jayson Rose (@jaysonr55) June 14, 2017
2017 EAST COUNTY PRO BASEBALL DRAFTEES
By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON – The phone calls finally started to arrive from Major League Baseball executives on Wednesday for many of the players with East County ties, as six players from the area were taken on the third and final day of the 2017 MLB Draft.
One local was taken earlier in the draft on Tuesday during Day Two of the First-Year Player selection process.
University of Utah record-setting right-hander JAYSON ROSE, out of Granite Hills High, was taken in the eighth round as the 234th pick overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Rose, a two-time All-Pac 12 first team selection, is the Utes all-time strikeout leader, amassing 256 Ks in 287 innings.
He was 19-13 in his career with the Utes, compiling a 3.23 ERA. He set the school’s single-season strikeout mark as a junior, helping Utah to the conference title.
He was East County Co-Player of the Year in 2014. The slot bonus for that level in the draft is $164,900.
Two former Valhalla High players led the group taken on Wednesday.
College World Series-bound CHRIS HUDGINS, of Cal State Fullerton, was picked in the 16th round by the Kansas City Royals.
Hudgins, a 6-1, 205-pound junior catcher, has five home runs this season for the Titans, who face Oregon State on Saturday in Omaha, Neb.
He hit .362 over his two-year varsity career with the Norsemen after coming over from Grossmont. He was East County Co-Player of the Year in 2014 with Rose.
Long Beach State junior third baseman RAMSEY ROMANO, a teammate of Hudgins’ at Valhalla, could consider another athletic chapter to his long-winding story after being selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 31st round (945th overall).
Romano, 6-foot-2, 200-pound shortstop by trade, hit .314 in his four-year varsity career with the Norsemen. He also was one of the area’s best quarterbacks.
He landed at the University of Michigan for one season, hitting .244, and even earned a spot on the depth chart at quarterback during the offseason under coach Jim Harbaugh, but quit the baseball team and ended up leading Yuvapai (Ariz.) College to the 2016 Junior College National Championship with a .410 average as a first-team All-NJCAA pick.
ROMANO
By then, LBSU had already set their sights on Romano, who hit a team-leading .313 this season, driving in 39 runs as the 49ers were eliminated in the Super Regionals by Hudgins’ Titans.
It is the second time the Cubs have drafted the two-time All-East County first team pick. Chicago chose him in the 35th round in 2013.
USD’s TROY CONYERS, a four-time All-East County selection from El Capitan High, was taken in the 23rd round (680 overall) by the Atlanta Braves.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound left-hander finished his collegiate career as the Toreros’ closer, saving 13 games. The all-time Vaquero strikeout champion (313) notched 65 Ks in just 46 2/3 innings in the finisher’s role this season.
Conyers, a two-time San Diego CIF Player of the Year (’11-12), underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014. However, the Braves are considering him as a starter, it was reported.
Santee’s TAYLOR AHEARN, of Cal State San Marcos, was tabbed in the 32nd round by the Boston Red Sox.
Ahearn played his high school ball at St. Augustine, then went to Siena College before winding up back in San Diego with the Cougars.
The right-hander struck out 75 hitters in 99 1/3 innings this season, going 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA.
NOAH NUNEZ, of Santana, was taken in the 39th round (1,177th overall) by the New York Mets. The Sultans right-hander was a dominant pitcher and a staunch hitter, as well, leading Santana to its first San Diego CIF championship game in 23 years.
The Sultans right-hander was a dominant pitcher and a staunch hitter, as well, leading Santana to the San Diego CIF Division II championship game.
Nunez has a scholarship offer in hand from San Diego State.
SEAN ROSS, of Granite Hills, was taken in the 40th round (1,209th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays. The 6-foot, 185-pounder is projected to be an outfielder in the professional ranks, although he has also pitched and played shortstop.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder is projected to be an outfielder in the professional ranks, although he has also pitched and played shortstop. He hit over .350 this season with eight home runs for the Eagles.
Ross also has a scholarship offer in hand from San Diego State.
