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MLB Draft: Texas Baseball crushes with most Draft picks!

By James Caldwell

Jul 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Los Angeles Angels baseball hat and glove and logo before the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels defeated the Rangers 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Los Angeles Angels baseball hat and glove and logo before the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels defeated the Rangers 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Baseball owned the 2017 MLB Draft with six more players selected Wednesday.

Day 3 of the MLB Draft brought the Texas Baseball total to 11 players drafted, which was tied with Michigan for the most picks.

It remains to be seen how many of the 11 players sign with their MLB organization or opt to return to Texas. For Draft-eligible sophomores and juniors, the reason for returning to Texas would be to improve their spot in the 2018 MLB Draft.

One player we know is heading to professional baseball is senior Zane Gurwitz. Gurwitz was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 26th round of the MLB Draft.

Another interesting choice was Patrick Mathis staying in the state of Texas if he signs with the Houston Astros, who selected Mathis in the 22nd round.

Plenty of other Longhorns got their name called on Wednesday. And, if you’re wondering how a team with so much MLB talent did not make it out of the Regionals round of the NCAA Tournament, well, you’ll have to bark up the tree of the NCAA Selection Committee and the umpires in Long Beach. Otherwise, the Horns might be in Omaha playing for another College World Series title.

As for next season, even if three or four of the drafted players return to Texas Baseball, new manager David Pierce will have to re-work his entire roster in Year 2.

Day 3 MLB Draft Picks

The six Longhorns selected on Wednesday represented a nice mix of hitting and pitching. The picks started with a surprise when the San Francisco Giants selected one of the Longhorns’ middle relief pitchers.

  • Relief Pitcher Tyler Schimpf
  • MLB Team: San Francisco Giants
  • 13th Round, #396 overall

https://twitter.com/TexasBaseball/status/875030188576436224

  • OF Patrick Mathis
  • MLB Team: Houston Astros
  • 22nd Round, #661 overall
  • Starting Pitcher Connor Mayes
  • MLB Team: Kansas City Royals
  • 24th Round, #720 overall
  • OF Zane Gurwitz
  • MLB Team: Los Angeles Angels
  • 26th Round, #775 overall

https://twitter.com/TexasBaseball/status/875069723851059201

  • OF Travis Jones
  • MLB Team: Kansas City Royals
  • 29th Round, #870 overall
  • Relief Pitcher Jon Malmin
  • MLB Team: Los Angeles Angels
  • 31st Round, #925 overall

https://twitter.com/TexasBaseball/status/875166048332509189

What’s Next for Texas Baseball?

Now David Pierce waits to find out which Longhorns return to Austin to join a roster that will experience serious turnover next season.

As for the pitching staff, we know that Nolan Kingham will be the staff ace and we know that Beau Ridgeway will be closer. In-between Friday night and the ninth inning is anyone’s guess.

More from Texas Baseball

On the offensive side, the Horns will have to fill the first baseman spot occupied by Kacy Clemens and the outfield spot of Zane Gurwitz. Then, it’s seeing whether fellow outfielders Travis Jones and Patrick Mathis join their MLB organization or return to Texas.

Here’s what we do know on offense: the left side is locked down with freshman-soon-to-be-sophomores David Hamilton at shortstop and Ryan Reynolds at third base.

And, the catching position will be occupied by Michael Cantu and Michael McCann. Everything else is up for grabs: first base, second base (with Bret Boswell drafted on Day 2), and presumably the entire outfield. That opens the door for Freshman All-Big 12 player Austin Todd to be a leadoff type hitter in the outfield.

Plus, Texas Baseball will need sophomore-turned-junior Kody Clemens to step up as an upperclassman for the Longhorns after he was not selected as a Draft-eligible sophomore.

Overall, it’s great to see 11 Longhorns taken in the MLB Draft. Now comes the challenging part for David Pierce rebuilding the Texas Baseball roster in 2018.

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