8 TEAM CAL PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2021 MLB DRAFT
The 2021 MLB Draft was held this week in Denver, CO, and Team California Baseball made some noise by having 7 Team California Baseball Alumni players selected. Here are the Team California Baseball Highlights in this year’s draft:
- KEVIN ABEL RHP – OREGON STATE | MADISON HS (CA): Kevin was selected in the 7th Round (210 Overall) by the Cincinnati Reds. This was the second time the San Diego Product was picked in the MLB Draft. In 2017 Kevin was originally chosen by the San Diego Padres. Kevin went 13- 6 overall for Oregon State with a 3.31 earned run average in 42 games for the Beavers, which includes 26 starts. He has 242 strikeouts in 179 2/3 innings while limiting opponents to a .172 batting average. Abel won eight games in his first season in Corvallis in 2018, and was named the National Freshman of the Year by D1Baseball.com and Baseball America. He won four of those eight games in Omaha, including a complete-game shutout over Arkansas to win the 2018 NCAA National Championship.
TANNER McDOUGAL RHP UNIVERSITY of OREGON COMMIT | SILVERADO HS (NV): Tanner was selected in the 5th Round (155 Overall) by the Chicago WhiteSox. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound righty is an Oregon commit out of Silverado High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. McDougal sits mid-90s with his fastball and throws a below-average changeup. His best pitch, however, is an above-average breaking ball that he effectively manipulates the shape and velocity of.
- KOBE KATO IF – UNIVERSITY of ARIZONA | AIEA HS: Kobe was selected in the 13th Round (388 Overall) by the Houston Astros. Kobe had a great season. Originally a “Preferred Walk-On” Kobe earned the starting 2B Spot and responded with hitting .350 with 58 runs scored, 16 doubles, 4 triples, one home run, 34 RBI, and more walks (43) than strikeouts (34). The Hawai’i native efforts earned him a spot on the Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention squad and a place on the Tucson NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. Kobe ranked among the Top 10 players in the Pac-12 conference in games, at-bats, runs, hits, triples, walks, batting average, and on-base percentage.
WYATT YOUNG IF – PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY | MID-PAC HS (HI) : Wyatt the Mid-Pacific alumnus and Pepperdine junior middle infielder was selected in the 15th round (442 Overall) selection by the New York Mets. Wyatt was a three-year starter for the Waves, he hit .318 for his career with five home runs.
- MIKEY PEREZ IF – UCLA | GAHR HS: Mikey was the 15th Round (459 Overall) selection of the Minnesota Twins. Mikey’s Career slash line was .243/.366/.443 over 83 games (68 starts), and also Led UCLA in home runs in with 11 in 2021.
- HUNTER BREAULT RHP – OREGON | KAMEHAMEHA HS
(Oahu, HI) – The Oregon Ducks setup man Hunter Breault was selected in the 20th Round (608 Overall) by the Oakland Athletics. Breault went 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA and and 1.63 WHIP in 15.1 innings over 15 appearances in 2021. He had 17 strikeouts and held opponents to a .292 average.
- TY COLLINS RHP – GLENDALE COLLEGE | ST. JOHN BOSCO HS: Team California 2020 Alumnus Ty Collins was selected in the 16th Round (475 Overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies.Ty doesn’t turn 20 until August and has Good size projection at 6’3″ 165 lbs. Collins is very Athletic with a loose Arm and was up to 94 this past May.