Jared Jones, Isaiah Greene, Jake Vogel lead local players selected in MLB draft
Huntington Beach High baseball coach Benji Medure has been a Dodgers fan since he was a child, so when his favorite team took his standout outfielder, Jake Vogel, in the third round of Thursday's Major League Baseball draft, Medure was more than excited.
"It's a dream come true for me," Medure said.
Vogel, a UCLA signee, will have to decide whether to sign with the Dodgers or join UCLA, where he was tabbed to replace first-round pick Garrett Mitchell in the Bruins' lineup. He was the 100th player selected.
With their 3rd-round pick (No. 100 overall) of the 2020 #MLBDraft, the #Dodgers select Huntington Beach (CA) HS OF Jake Vogel, No. 82 on the Top 200 Draft Prospects list: https://t.co/3THQpkFz4n
Watch live: https://t.co/cmm19LFrdg pic.twitter.com/AzRobmMmZ0— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 12, 2020
"He's good either way," Medure said.
Vogel has lots of speed and displayed improving power during the short spring season stopped because of COVID-19.
"He had a really good winter," Medure said. "Once the season started, he took off. He has a lot of pop."
Jared Jones' slider is devastating. Pirates will be very happy.https://t.co/PVIZCyE3My
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) June 11, 2020
The highest Southern California player taken on day two of the draft was La Mirada right-hander Jared Jones, who was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round with the No. 44 pick. The Texas signee is considered one of the best pitchers in California.
With their compensation #MLBDraft pick (No. 69 overall), the #Mets select Corona HS OF Isaiah Greene, No. 62 on the Top 200 Draft Prospects list: https://t.co/fFqYIrb8om
Watch live: https://t.co/cmm19LX2BQ pic.twitter.com/KjZYXLXtpV— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 11, 2020
Outfielder Isaiah Greene of Corona went to the New York Mets in the second round. Mira Costa outfielder Petey Halpin was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the third round. Santa Margarita shortstop Milan Tolentino, another UCLA signee, was taken by the Indians in the fourth round.
.@Indians fans, get to know @milan_tolentino!
He models his game off of @Lindor12BC! 😁 #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/ZjzVaT3C70— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 12, 2020
Among college players, third-round picks included closer Holden Powell of UCLA to the Washington Nationals and pitcher Nick Garcia of Chapman to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Former Peninsula pitcher Nick Frasso of Loyola Marymount was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth round. USC pitcher Kyle Hurt was selected by Miami Marlins in the fifth round. Former Crespi pitcher Taylor Dollard of Cal Poly went to the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round.