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Nine Pump Jacks Selected in Major League Draft

June 10, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Former Pump Jacks Jacob Lindgren, Corey Ray, and Mitch Meyer were chosen in the first quarter of the draft, headlining nine former Jacks picked by big league clubs.

The 2014 Major League First-Year Player Draft has come to a close, and once again the East Texas Pump Jacks were well-represented. A total of nine former Jacks were selected, including three in the first ten rounds.

The bulk of the drafted alumni were pitchers: Jacob Lindgren, Corey Ray, Jacob Kelzer, Jason Jester, and Jordan Johnson. Also picked were outfielders Mitch Meyer and Taylor Murphy, and infielders Brett Pirtle and Austin Pfeiffer.

This was the first time Ray, Kelzer, Meyer, Pirtle, and Pfeiffer were drafted. Lindgren, Jester, Johnson, and Murphy had all been selected previously.

In the organization's six-plus years, 53 Pump Jacks have now been selected by big league teams. Although no members of the current roster were drafted this season, two current Jacks were previously chosen: Tanner Cable, who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays last June, and Andrew Grifol, a selection of the Seattle Mariners in 2011.

Lindgren was selected by the New York Yankees in the second round with the 55th overall pick. It was no surprise the Mississippi State left-hander was chosen early, after being projected as high as late in the first round. Lindgren has been named a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award as the nation's top reliever and the Olson Award, given to college baseball's breakout player of the year.

A starting pitcher with the Pump Jacks on their 2012 championship team, Lindgren was moved to the bullpen by Bulldogs with staggering results. He went 6-1 with a 0.81 ERA, striking out 100 in just 55.1 innings pitched and averaging a whopping 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings. His 100 whiffs ranked first in the nation among relievers, making him just the third MSU pitcher to strike out that many in a season.

A 12th-round pick by the Chicago Cubs out of high school in 2011, Lindgren could spend very little time in the minors. Jim Callis, a longtime baseball pundit now writing for MLB.com, predicted Lindgren will be the first player from this draft to reach the major leagues. After Lindgren was chosen last Thursday, Callis reiterated his point during MLB Network coverage, saying the lefty could receive a call-up this September. Lindgren is looking to beat Brett Nicholas, currently with the Texas Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock, to become the first former Pump Jack in the big leagues.

This marked the third-straight year in which the first Texas Collegiate League alum selected in the draft was a former Pump Jack. Last summer, Hunter Dozier set a TCL record when he was drafted eighth overall by the Kansas City Royals. In 2012, the first TCL player chosen was former East Texas outfielder Blake Brown.

A teammate of Lindgren's in 2012 with the Jacks, Ray was drafted by the Royals in the fifth round with the 153rd overall pick. A versatile member of the Texas A&M pitching staff, Ray tied for the Aggie staff lead in wins with a 6-1 record to go with a 1.91 ERA. He made four starts in his 17 appearances this spring, striking out 25 in 37.2 innings.

As a member of the TCL championship team in 2012, Ray went 5-2 with a 4.87 ERA in ten games with the Jacks.

Kansas City has become a popular destination for former Pump Jacks, with five alumni currently active in the Royals' system. Dozier, John Walter, and Beau Maggi were drafted by K.C., and the organization signed Tyler Mack and Logan Davis as free agents.

The Milwaukee Brewers picked Meyer in the seventh round with the 206 overall selection. The junior outfielder batted .264 with 26 RBI for Kansas State this spring, and he was second on the team in slugging (.392), doubles (eight), and home runs (three).

One of the league's most dangerous hitters last summer, Meyer led the Jacks in all three Triple Crown categories despite playing in just half of the team's games. He batted .376 with four homers, 34 RBI and .581 slugging percentage in 30 games. Had he joined the club sooner than late June, he would have qualified for the TCL batting title and likely received strong consideration for the All-TCL team and TCL Player of the Year award.

Murphy was picked in the 18th round by the Cleveland Indians out of the University of the Pacific. The junior outfielder was named to the all-West Coast Conference second team after batting .315 and leading the Tigers with five home runs and six triples.

A key cog in the Pump Jacks' run to the championship in 2012, Murphy batted .305 and led East Texas with 31 walks. He drove in three runs and scored two more in the Jacks' two TCL Championship Series wins over the Victoria Generals.

Murphy was drafted coming out of high school as well, when the San Diego Padres selected him in the 40th round in 2011.

The Yankees dipped into Pump Jacks pool again when they chose the towering Kelzer from Indiana University in the 22nd round. A former All-American swimmer in high school, Kelzer struck out 11 batters in 15 innings last summer for the Jacks. He improved mightily this spring for the Hoosiers, striking out 44 in 31.2 innings over 25 relief appearances while posting a 3.13 ERA.

Jester heard his name called for the second year in a row by the Padres, this time getting picked in the 23rd round. After setting the Texas A&M single-season saves record in 2013, San Diego showed particular interest in the Hallsville native before drafting him in the 30th round.

Jester remains one of the most decorated players in Pump Jacks history. The Jacks' closer in 2011 after his sophomore year at Tyler Junior College, he shared All-TCL reliever honors when he earned eight saves and struck out 41.

The following summer, Jester's star shined brighter than ever. He shattered the TCL single-season record with 19 saves and went the entire regular season without allowing an earned run. He struck out 41, walked only two and allowed just 12 hits before closing out the Jacks' championship triumph. Following the season, Jester was named the league's top pro prospect and a summer collegiate All-American by Perfect Game.

Right after Jester was picked, Johnson was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 23rd round. Johnson went 3-6 with a 4.33 ERA this spring at Cal State Northridge, making 12 starts in 15 appearances.

Last summer with the Pump Jacks marked Johnson's first injury-free season in several years. The right-hander went 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA, striking out 48 in 46.1 innings pitched. Johnson's complete game victory last June against the Woodlands Strykers earned him TCL Pitcher of the Week honors.

Also in the 23rd round, the Detroit Tigers drafted Pirtle, a senior second baseman from Mississippi State A member of the Pump Jacks in 2011, Pirtle blossomed after transferring from Panola College to Mississippi State. A two-time second-team all-SEC infielder, the Tyler native batted cleanup for the Bulldogs in their 2013 run to the College World Series championship game. He led MSU with a .363 batting average and 35 runs scored this spring.

A senior shortstop at Arkansas-Little Rock, Pfeiffer was picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the 27th round. Pfeiffer began the 2013 season with the Pump Jacks before departing early due to injury. He batted .296 with nine home runs for the Trojans in 2013 and .253 with five homers and 16 stolen bases this spring.

The Pump Jacks are headed to Victoria for a two-game series against the Generals Tuesday and Wednesday. Game time for both games is 7:35 p.m., and you can follow the games online by visiting Pump Jacks TV.

The Jacks return to East Texas for a four-game homestand beginning Thursday against the Acadiana Cane Cutters. The opener marks the return of Thirsty Thursday, when fans can beat the heat with 50-cent soft drinks and draft beers for just one dollar.

Friday will be the first Fireworks Friday of the season, presented by Patterson Kilgore and CBS 19. The Jacks will light up the night sky with a postgame fireworks extravaganza with a new soundtrack befitting the Friday the 13th date.

Saturday will be Pump Jacks Mist-N-Sip Giveaway Night, presented by GymBox Fitness and KLTV. This unique and useful water bottle has not only a spout to drink from, but a trigger to spray a fine, cooling mist. With your Mist-N-Sip courtesy of GymBox Fitness and KLTV, you can keep cool all summer with a drink and spritz! The bottles feature the Pump Jacks "Boomer Eyes" logo, and only the first 500 fans will get one, so don't be late!

The homestand will wrap up next Sunday with the return of Longview News-Journal Family Night, when fans can pick up four grandstand tickets for just $10, or four tickets and four meals for only $25.

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