WCL Corvallis Knights

10 Knights Taken in 2015 MLB Draft

June 10, 2015 - West Coast League (WCL)
Corvallis Knights News Release


Ten Corvallis Knights alumni or current players were selected in the Major League Baseball draft on Wednesday.

Cal Poly junior shortstop Peter Van Gansen (2013), the 2015 Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was taken in the 12th round by the San Diego Padres as the 12th overall selection.

Van Gansen was first-team all-West Coast League for the Knights' 2013 championship team. He was one of five players from that title team to be chosen in this year's draft. Four other players from that club went in the 2014 draft.

Also selected on Wednesday were:

Oklahoma junior catcher Chris Shaw (2014) went to the Baltimore Orioles in the 15th round with the 463rd overall selection. He also was taken in the 14th round in the 2014 draft after his sophomore season at Midland (Texas) JC, by St. Louis at No. 435.

Cal Poly junior right-handed pitcher Casey Bloomquist (2013) went to the Chicago Cubs in the 17th round with the 503rd overall selection. He was honorable-mention all-WCL in 2013.

Left-handed pitcher Austin Sodders (2014) of Riverside City College was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round as the 517th overall selection.

Oregon State outfielder Gabe Clark (2013) went to Toronto in the 26th round as the 782nd overall selection. He was ranked as the WCL's 17th-best pro prospect after his 2014 season at Victoria.

Columbia outfielder Gus Craig (2013), the 2015 Ivy League co-Player of the Year, was drafted by Seattle in the 30th round as the 905th overall pick.

Current Corvallis pitcher Nick Duron (2015) of Clark College went to Boston in the 31st round as the 921st selection.

Utility Nate Esposito (2012) of Concordia went to Boston in the 33rd round as the 999th overall pick.

Lefty Andrew Naderer (2013) of Grand Canyon was selected by Detroit in the 37th round as the 1,120th pick. He was ranked No. 11 in Perfect Game's 2013 WCL pro ratings.

Returning Knights' first baseman Dalton Kelly (2014-15) of UC Santa Barbara went to Seattle in round 38 as pick No. 1,145. He was ranked No. 5 by Perfect Game and No. 14 by Baseball America in their 2014 WCL pro evaluations.

Thirty-four Corvallis Knights alums began the 2015 season in affiliated baseball. Andrew Susac (2009), Matt Duffy (2010) and Matt Andriese (2009) have played at the major-league level this year.



West Coast League Stories from June 10, 2015


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