For the third straight year, San Diego-area high school players have been shut out in the MLB Draft.
The 20-round, three-day draft concluded Tuesday. None of San Diego’s top high school players — outfielder Jack Haferkamp (Santa Fe Christian), pitchers Cooper Walls and Stunner Gonzalez (La Costa Canyon), catcher Kalen Applefield (La Costa Canyon), pitcher Will Sanford (Point Loma), catcher Jack Giordano (Patrick Henry) and pitcher Brady Dockan (Rancho Bernardo) — were drafted.
All have solid college commitments — Haferkamp to UC Santa Barbara, Walls to Hawaii, Gonzalez to LSU, Dockan to Cal State Fullerton, Sanford to Oregon, Giordano to USD and Applefield to Cal.
“In the old days of a 40-round or more draft, before college NIL deals, these kids would probably all have been drafted,” said a MLB scout. “But they all had high price tags, so it’s better for them to go to college, play well and get drafted in three years.
“It’s not that they aren’t good players. It really comes down to today’s system. In a 20-round draft, teams can’t gamble on a high school kid with a higher price tag. They have to be able to sign every pick.”
Only five players with local ties, all of them collegians, were taken Wednesday. Only 12 players from San Diego were chosen in the draft’s three days.
Shortstop Ali Camarillo (Otay Ranch/Texas A&M) was the first San Diego player taken Wednesday, going to the A’s in the 12th round.
Right-hander Mike Villani (El Camino/Palomar College/Long Beach State) was taken by the Dodgers in the 13th round. USD righty Drake Frize went to the Diamondbacks in the 17th round.
Left-hander Izaak Martinez (UC San Diego) was taken by the Guardians in the 18th round. And shortstop Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (Torrey Pines/USC) was chosen by the Blue Jays in the 20th round. He is the son of former major leaguer Mark Grudzielanek.
San Diego players taken in this year’s MLB Draft
Rd., Name, Pos., College, Organization, Pick
3., Josh Randall, RHP, USD, Tigers, 85
3., Ryan Forcucci, RHP,San Marcos HS/UCSD, Astros, 101
5., Jakob Christian, OF, St. Augustine HS/USD/Giants, 149
5., Ariel Armas, C, St. Augustine HS/USD, Cubs, 153
9., Duce Gourson, SS, Point Loma HS/UCLA, Pirates, 264
10., Jack Costello, 3B, USD, Padres, 300
10., Matt Halbach, 3B, UCSD, Cubs, 302
12., Ali Camarillo, SS, Otay Ranch HS/Texas A&M, A’s, 346
13., Mike Villani, RHP, El Camino HS/Palomar College/Long Beach State, Dodgers, 400
17, Drake Frize, RHP, USD, Arizona, 524
18., Izaak Martinez, LHP, UCSD, Guardians, 555
20., Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, SS, Torrey Pines HS/USC, Blue Jays,
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