2015 MLB Draft: 4 Hornets Drafted

Wed Jun 10, 2015 8:33 am

Lukes was drafted in the 7th round:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State junior outfielder Nathan Lukes was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 7th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.

Good luck to him.

Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:51 am

3 more Hornets were drafted yesterday:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State senior pitcher Brennan Leitao, senior shortstop Scotty Burcham, and junior pitcher Sutter McLoughlin were all selected on Wednesday during the final day of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft.

McLoughlin in the 22nd round, Burcham in the 25th, and Leito in the 26th.

Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:14 pm

How many are leaving? UOP also had something like 4 players taken; at least one has already announced that he's staying. This was his second time being drafted, and it could have been his third, as one team sent feelers out but backed off when he indicated he was staying.

I kinda like that idea. Yeah, you risk your draft position if you get hurt, but you also have a chance to help the school make some noise in the post season. Any word on this with any of the Hornets selected?

Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:31 am

Not likely. Burcham and Leitao are seniors so they are done regardless. Lukes more than likely won’t improve his draft stock if he were to return next season. McLoughlin might be able to improve his draft stock assuming the Hornets can play well enough to give him enough save opportunities. However the oddity of the MLB draft is that juniors have more leverage to get a better deal than seniors. Juniors have the option of returning and thus getting a little more money by using that leverage, seniors are dealt more of a “take it or leave it” offer. I doubt McLoughlin would return, he would be pitching in a weaker conference and he really has not much else to play for as he already holds the WAC and Hornet record for career saves.

Sat Jun 13, 2015 1:36 pm

Thanks, SD. That makes a lot of sense....

Tue Jun 16, 2015 9:25 am

Capital Public Radio audio and article on the draft:

The coach says Lukes is smart to leave school early.

"You have no leverage when you come back your senior year," he says. "So, he'll get a pretty good signing bonus to go out and play. Really, it comes down to being a year closer to making it to the big leagues. He's accomplished everything he needed to accomplish as did Sutter. Those guys need to now go on and challenge themselves at the next level."

Christiansen says the teams will also pay for both players final semesters of schooling.

Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:55 pm

Nichols signs as a free agent with Tampa Bay.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State senior right-handed pitcher Ty Nichols has signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

After four Hornets were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft last week Nichols becomes the fifth Sacramento State player to sign an MLB contract. The five MLB signees are the most the program has had in a season since 1993, when three players were drafted and three signed as free agents.