Six Diamond Hogs Taken on Day 2 of the MLB Draft
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Six more Arkansas baseball players were taken on the second day of the Major League Baseball Draft on Friday afternoon.
Danny Hamblin was the first Razorback off the board Friday after three Hogs – Nick Schmidt, Duke Welker and Jess Todd – were taken with the first 82 picks on Thursday.
Hamblin was a 10th-round choice of the Oakland Athletics following his senior season when he hammered 22 home runs. He was selected by the A’s in the ninth round following his junior season, but chose to return to Arkansas and became the school’s all-time home run leader with 57 over his four-year career.
Senior right-hander Chris Rhoads was the next Hog taken when the Philadelphia Phillies selected him with the 852nd overall selection in the 28th round. He went 3-1 in 2007 with a 4.75 ERA, two saves and 41 strikeouts in 41.2 innings.
Junior catcher Brian Walker heard his named called with the 898th pick in the 29th round. The Anaheim Angels took the Hogs’ backstop, who finished second on the team with 11 home runs last season.
Outfielder Jacob Julius, who transferred in from Spalding [Ky.] University prior to last season, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 33rd round. He hit .309 last season with five home runs and 21 RBI.
Senior center fielder Jake Dugger went in the 49th round to the Washington Nationals. He hit .268 in his final season in Fayetteville with 14 doubles, six home runs and 26 RBI. Redshirt sophomore middle infielder Matt Willard was selected right behind Dugger in the 49th round with the 1,423rd overall pick by the Cleveland Indians.
Nine Razorbacks were drafted over the two-day, 50-round, MLB Draft that concluded early Friday evening. Nick Schmidt became the first Razorback selected in the first round since David Walling in 1999. Duke Welker and Jess Todd were then selected in the second round and six more Hogs went on Friday.
Arkansas also had eight incoming signees drafted over the two days of the MLB Draft. Two UA signees – Ryan Miller and John Maschino – also inked deals prior to the draft with the teams that drafted them last season. RHP Brett Eibner, brother to current UA golfer Drew Eibner, was the highest draft pick, going to the Houston Astros in the fourth round with the 141st overall pick.
Razorback Selections
Player Round Pick Team
Danny Hamblin, INF 10th 330 Oakland Athletics
Chris Rhoads, RHP 28th 852 Philadelphia Phillies
Brian Walker, C 29th 898 Anaheim Angels
Jacob Julius, OF 33rd 997 Baltimore Orioles
Jake Dugger, OF 49th 1417 Washington Nationals
Matt Willard, INF 49th 1423 Cleveland Indians
2008 Signees
Player RoundPickTeamPrevious School
Brett Eibner, RHP 4th141Houston AstrosThe Woodlands [Texas] HS
Zach Oliver, LHP 16th485Pittsburgh PiratesParis [Texas] JC
Ryan Turner, RHP 22nd665Tampa Bay Devil RaysRichland [Texas] HS
Cody Hawn, INF/OF 23rd701Milwaukee BrewersSouth Doyle [Knoxville, Tenn.] HS
Conrad Flynn, RHP 25th765Seattle MarinersRobert E. Lee [Midland, Texas] HS
Andy Wilkins, INF 25th770Texas RangersBroken Arrow [Okla.] HS
James Mahler, RHP 42nd1262Philadelphia PhilliesJordan [Salt Lake City, Utah] HS
Ryan Cisterna, C 48th1351Washington NationalsChandler-Gilbert [Ariz.] CC
Razorback First-Day Selections
Player Round Pick Team
Nick Schmidt, LHP 1st 23rd San Diego Padres
Duke Welker, RHP 2nd68th Pittsburgh Pirates
Jess Todd, RHP 2nd 82nd St. Louis Cardinals
