Julian Smith, who went 8-2 in 14 starts and struck out 130 for Catawba Valley Community College this season, was picked in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers./CVCC PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
Seven players with area ties — including the top pitcher in Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) history — had been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday as it reached its 40th and final round.
Major league teams called the names of two CVCC players on this season’s roster and a former Red Hawks pitcher, two stars from Lenoir-Rhyne University, and two products of Alexander Central High, one from this year’s team and another who was a senior at N.C. State.
The top draft picks from North Carolina high schools were outfielder Jordyn Adams of Green Hope (first round, 17th pick by the L.A. Angels), right-handed pitcher Owen White of Carson (first round, 55th pick by the Texas Rangers).
Adams, who had committed to play baseball and football at North Carolina, has indicated he will sign with the Angels, with a slot bonus of $3.5 million.
Lake Norman High right-handed pitcher Justin Jarvis was selected in the fifth round (pick No. 155) by the Milwaukee Brewers.
These area players will soon decide on their baseball futures:
Julian Smith, LHP, CVCC
Smith, who is 6-foot-4. from Concord and committed to N.C. State, was selected in the 15th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers (pick No. 464).
After missing a year because of Tommy John surgery, he returned to make 14 starts this season for CVCC. He went 8-2 with an ERA of 2.51 and struck out 130, pushing his career totals with the Red Hawks to 10 wins and 181 strikeouts.
DEAN
Justin Dean, OF, Lenoir-Rhyne
A junior outfielder from Mauldin, S.C., he was taken in the 17th round (pick No. 502) by the Atlanta Braves.
He played in all 49 games for the Bears (27-22) this season, hitting .398 with 13 doubles, seven triples, six home runs and 36 RBIs.
Zach Hammer, RHP, Alexander Central High
Hammer was taken in the 21st round (pick No. 620) by the New York Mets.
He made seven starts and 10 appearances this season for Alexander Central, which went 22-8 this season, and finished with a 5-2 record and 2.75 ERA.
Hammer had 47 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.
He previously committed to CVCC.
WHITSON
Landon Whitson, RHP, Lenoir-Rhyne
A McDowell High graduate, Whitson was taken in the 25th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks with pick No. 759.
He made 23 appearances this season as a senior at LRU, going 3-1 with an ERA of 2.01 and earning nine saves.
Whitson gave up only seven earned runs, struck out 42 and walked eight.
McLAIN
Josh McLain, OF, N.C. State
A former star at Alexander Central who hit .344 at N.C. State this year as a senior, McLain was selected in the ninth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers (pick No. 284).
He played all 60 games this season for the Wolfpack (48-12) and had 13 doubles, three triples, four home runs and drove in 40 runs.
McLain hit .300 as a sophomore for N.C. State and got into 35 games — starting 10 of them — as an ACC freshman.
BURRESS
Garrison Burress, SS, CVCC
A freshman at CVCC from South Caldwell High, he was tabbed in the 40th round (pick No. 1,209) by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He played in 53 games this season, hitting .346 for the Red Hawks with 15 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 45 RBIs.
HENSLEY
Bryce Hensley, LHP, UNC Greensboro
An A.C. Reynolds product who pitched at CVCC before signing with UNC Greensboro, Hensley wen tin the 22nd round (pic No. 6621) to the Kansas City Royals.
A left-hander, he went 6-2 with a 4.21 ERA this season for UNC Greensboro. He made 14 starts and 15 appearances, working 83 /13 innings with 12 walks and 82 strikeouts.