UCLA and the MLB draft
Two more UCLA players were drafted on the second day of the Major League Baseball draft. Second baseman Alden Carrithers was taken in the 15th round by the Detroit Tigers and catcher Ryan Babineau was picked in the 17th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Here is the release from UCLA:
UCLA'S ALDEN CARRITHERS, RYAN BABINEAU SELECTED ON DAY TWO OF MLB DRAFT
Carrithers selected by Detroit Tigers, Babineau by Arizona Diamondbacks
LOS ANGELES - UCLA second baseman Alden Carrithers was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the 15th round, and catcher Ryan Babineau was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 17th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft on Friday afternoon.
Carrithers finished his two-year UCLA career with a .364 batting average, the sixth-highest career mark in school history. Babineau has played in 161 games the past three seasons as UCLA's catcher, logging a career .260 batting average.
"Alden was one of the most consistent hitters in the country this season," UCLA head coach John Savage said. "He was as good as any offensive second baseman throughout the nation."
A native of Portland, Ore., Carrithers excelled as the Bruins' second baseman the past two seasons, compiling a .377 batting average as a senior in 2008. Carrithers transferred to UCLA after playing at UC Santa Barbara in 2005 and 2006, when he logged a .317 career average for the Gauchos.
In 2008, Carrithers was named one of 50 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, presented annually to college baseball's top player. In his senior season, Carrithers registered a team-leading .484 on-base percentage, the highest mark by a Bruin since Brian Baron recorded a .487 on-base percentage in 2001.
In addition, the Bruins' second baseman collected 16 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 47 RBI, 51 runs and a team-best 17 stolen bases in 23 attempts. As a junior in 2007, Carrithers led UCLA with a .352 batting average, totaling 16 doubles, two home runs, 32 RBI and 53 runs.
A standout defensive presence behind the plate, Babineau has played in 161 games the past three seasons, making 155 starts. Babineau has thrown out 40 of 115 attempted base runners (39.1) in three years.
At the plate, Babineau has compiled three-year totals of 23 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 87 RBI and 83 runs. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., resident, served as one of UCLA's three team captains as a junior in 2008.
"Ryan has been a great leader in our program over the last three years," Savage said.
In 2008, Babineau logged a .247 average, playing in 44 games and making 40 starts (34 at catcher, six at designated hitter). An All-Pac-10 honorable mention selection in 2007, Babineau belted five homers and logged a career-best 37 RBI as a sophomore that spring. Babineau earned freshman All-America accolades in 2006, posting a .258 batting average with eight doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI.
Carrithers and Babineau were selected one day after juniors Tim Murphy (third round, Texas), Brandon Crawford (fourth round, San Francisco) and Jermaine Curtis (fifth round, St. Louis) were chosen in the first five rounds of the 2008 MLB Draft.
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
Brian,
I know it's too late for questions this week, but if you can indulge one more before you got on vacation, I'd be much obliged.
Can you talk a little about baseball players and the MLB Draft? For example, I believe players can't be drafted until after their 3rd year out of high school, correct? Is every player automatically eligible for the draft after their 3rd year or do they declare for the draft? Finally, if a player is drafted, does that mean their eligibility is gone or can they return if they so desire? Thanks!
I can answer those questions:
All college players are eligible after their junior year, or if they turn 21 within 45 days of the draft (this can apply to sophomores, oftentimes due to a redshirt season). Players do not have to declare for the draft like in basketball and football. Players can return to school for another season so long as they do not sign with an agent.
Thank you Chris for your answer -- that was very helpful. I'm curious to know whether any drafted Bruins might return next year. I'd guess Babineau would be the only possibility since he was a 17th round pick and might be able to improve his draft status next year. Carrithers is the only senior and Murphy, Crawford, and Curtis were all drafted on the first day so I'd guess they're gone...