WCC Represents Well in the 2015 MLB Draft

Within the last week, we’ve already discussed the San Diego and Gonzaga baseball players who were taken in the 2015 MLB draft, but what about the rest of the WCC? The Toreros and Zags weren’t the only schools to send some alumni into the pros. Let’s take a look at the rest of the future major leaguers from the West Coast Conference:

Loyola Marymount 

• David Fletcher, SS — Taken in the sixth round of the draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Fletcher was just a sophomore at LMU when his name was announced last week. A first-team All West Coast Conference selection, David had a .308 batting average for the Lions to go along with 14 doubles, two triples, two home runs, and 27 RBI. He’s known for his stellar defense and was listed on the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List with 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
• Trevor Megill, RHP — After being drafted in the third round of the 2014 MLB draft, Megill decided to stay at Loyola Marymount for his junior season. The talented right-hander posted a 3.60 ERA over over 15 appearances for the Lions as he was taken in the seventh round of the 2015 draft by the San Diego Padres. He was an All-WCC Honorable Mention and held an astonishing 0.93 ERA in his last four outings, giving him 19 quality starts with LMU. If Megill decides to go pro, he’ll leave with the fourth best ERA in Loyola Marymount history at 3.40 and second-best opponent batting average at .234. He also averaged 8.71 strikeouts per game, good for fifth in the LMU record books.
• Colin Welmon, RHP — Like Megill, Welmon was also taken in the 2014 draft but chose to return for his senior year as a Lion. He was taken in the eighth round by the Colorado Rockies after recording a 6-6 record to go along with a 2.68 ERA over 14 starts in his senior season. Welmon will leave LMU with a 28-16 overall record and his ERA, wins total and 2.06 walks-per-nine innings rank third in LMU history. He was a three-time All-West Coast Conference selection and struck out 96 to only 28 walks through 94 innings in his senior year.

BYU

• Kolton Mahoney, RHP — Since being named Pitcher of the Week by Collegiate Baseball in 2014, Kolton Mahoney has been a lights-out pitcher for the Cougars, which is why he was was drafted in 2014 by the Milwaukee Brewers. Mahoney, however, decided to return to BYU for the 2015 season. Now, Mahoney finds himself drafted in the 16th round by the New York Yankees and has already agreed to sign with one of Major League Baseball’s cornerstone franchises. The righty with a flamethrower for an arm led BYU with 91 strikeouts in 85.1 innings and 23 appearances this past year.

Pacific 

• Tyler Sullivan, OF — As the leadoff hitter for the Tigers, Tyler led the team with a .351 batting average to go along with 16 base hits and 19 RBI. He was drafted in the 14th round by the Chicago White Sox and was Pacific’s starting center fielder. He earned All-WCC Second Team Honors and produced 13 multi-hit efforts against the WCC, including a four-hit night against LMU ace Colin Welmon. In his four years at Pacific, Tyler is fourth in games started (188), hits (224), fifth in runs scored (130), and 10th in triples (9) in Pacific history.
• Brett Sullivan, SS/C — Later in the 17th round, Tyler discovered he wasn’t the only Sullivan heading to the big leagues. His younger brother, Brett, was taken three rounds later by the Tampa Bay Rays. His 53 hits on the season were second to Tyler, although he did lead the Tigers in RBI (28) and home runs (seven). Against WCC competition, Brett posted a .336 average while driving in a team-best 25 RBI.
• Gio Brusa, OF — Taken in the 23rd round, junior Gio Brusa was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. Coming out of high school, Brusa was drafted in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox, an offer he rejected in order to pursue his college education. In 2012, he was selected yet again by the Atlanta Braves. While previously being viewed by scouts as a top-200 prospect, Brusa’s draft stock fell tremendously as he announced he’d be returning for his senior season at Pacific. So, as it stands, Brusa will not be joining the Cardinals this year and will make Pacific quite a strong contender next season. Prior to 2015, he was named a Baseball America Preseason First Team All-American. Expect Gio to be a high draft pick in 2016.

Pepperdine

• Hutton Moyer, 2B — Standout second baseman Hutton Moyer was selected in the seventh round of the draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He led the WCC in home runs (14), RBI (45), runs scored (91), and total bases (124). Moyer held a .564 slugging percentage and earned All-West Cost Conference First Team Honors in his last two seasons. He helped the Waves win back-to-back WCC Tournament championships and an NCAA Regional victory in 2014. Baseball runs in the Moyer family, as his father, Jamie, held a 25-year career in the MLB.
• Jackson McClelland, RHP — Taken in the 15th round by the Toronto Blue Jays, Jackson McClelland held a team-leading 2.93 ERA and went 6-4 overall in his junior campaign. He was a big reason why Pepperdine won its second straight WCC Tournament title and NCAA Regional appearance. He allowed a mere 2.37 opponent batting average and struck out 71 batters in 2015.

Saint Mary’s 

• Collin Ferguson, INF — In 2014, after being taken in the 23rd round, Ferguson decided to return to Saint Mary’s for his senior year, hoping to improve his draft stock. This decision paid off for Collin, as he was selected in the 17th round in 2015 by the Colorado Rockies. In his senior campaign, Collin led the Gaels to their first winning season since 2009. He held a .337 batting average to go along with 24 doubles (a SMC single-season record), 39 RBI and 45 runs scored. Ferguson is also SMC’s record holder for games played (214), at-bats (804) and doubles (71).

San Francisco 

• Christian Cecilio, LHP — In 14 appearances for the Dons in 2015, Christian Cecilio finished the year with a 2.05 ERA, which is good for second in the WCC. Because of his dominant senior year, Cecilio was selected in the 22nd round by the San Diego Padres. He held a 5-4 record on the year and threw four complete games, three of them being shutouts.

Santa Clara 

• Jose Vizcaino, Jr., INF/OF — It’s really quite fitting that Jose Vizcaino, Jr. was taken in the seventh round by the San Francisco Giants, seeing that his father is a two-time World Series champion with San Francisco in 1997 and 2006. As a First Team All-WCC selection, Jose boasted a .335 batting average and led the team in hits (65), doubles (14), triples (4), home runs (9), RBI (39), runs scored (43), slugging percentage (.558), and stolen bases (10). He was also named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list this season. Safe to say Jose has made his mark at SCU and will be continuing his father’s legacy in the bay area.
• Reece Karalus, RHP — A mere 22 picks after Jose Vizcaino, Jr. got selected by the Giants, fellow Bronco Reece Karalus was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round. Reece started the year as the Broncos’ lead closer, but eventually moved to the starting rotation and posted a 3.00 ERA in 27 innings during conference play. When facing WCC opponents, Karalus holds an impressive 7:1 strike-out-to-walk ratio and earned a Second Team All-WCC selection in 2015.

Congratulations to all former WCC stars on their entrance into Major League Baseball! You’ve represented the West Coast Conference well and we wish you the best of luck in your professional careers.