Rodriguez, Espy, Beacom selected on Day 2 of MLB Draft

From UCLA:

LOS ANGELES - UCLA catcher Steve Rodriguez, first baseman Dean Espy and left-handed pitcher Mitchell Beacom were each selected on day two of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

Rodriguez and Espy were chosen in the 15th round, with Rodriguez being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Espy being selected by the Kansas City Royals. Beacom was taken in the 20th round by the San Francisco Giants.

A three-year starter behind the plate, Rodriguez was superb in handling first-round draft selections Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer the last three seasons. As a junior in 2011, Rodriguez threw out 22 of 54 attempted base stealers, converting at a 40.7 percent clip. At the plate, he batted .196 with five doubles and 17 RBI. In three seasons, Rodriguez batted .215 with 10 home runs, 15 doubles, 64 RBI and 58 runs in 147 games (137 starts).

Espy starred at UCLA at both third and first base after transferring from South Mountain Community College (Phoenix) in the summer of 2009. He led UCLA with a .320 batting average as the only Bruin to play in all 59 games in 2011. He made 58 starts (57 at first base), totaling three home runs, 15 doubles, 40 RBI and 32 runs. In two seasons at UCLA, Espy batted .331 with 12 home runs and 92 RBI.

Beacom excelled the last three seasons as a left-handed reliever, going 1-3 with a 3.49 ERA and one save in 47 appearances out of the bullpen. He logged 74 strikeouts and 16 walks in 59.1 career innings. In 2011, Beacom went 0-2 with a 2.20 ERA in 25 appearances, registering 38 strikeouts and nine walks in 32.2 innings.

Cole was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Bauer was chosen third by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Monday.

Wednesday marks the third and final day of the 2011 MLB Draft, with rounds 31-50 beginning at 9 a.m. (PT).