How did the 2017 Major League Baseball draft effect the 2018 UCLA baseball team? It’s certainly more complicated than adding up the number of players who were drafted.
Of the six UCLA players drafted over the last three days, three are guaranteed to leave and the other three are faced with decisions, some easier than others.
Of the six players from UCLA’s incoming recruiting class who were drafted, three were selected in the first six rounds, meaning they would be passing up some hefty signing bonuses were they to attend UCLA. A third was drafted in the 14th round, a fairly unpredictable range of the draft when it comes to signability. The final two were taken in the last two rounds of the draft, making it likely that at least they will attend UCLA.
Three of the current UCLA players drafted have already exhausted their college eligibility. Pitchers Scott Burke (Orioles, 20th round) and Moises Ceja (Rockies, 32nd round) and outfielder Brett Stephens (Rockies, 28th round) have no decisions to make.
Junior pitcher Griffin Canning, the Bruins’ No. 1 starter last season, was the Angels’ second-round pick, No. 47 overall. Were he to return to UCLA, he would be leaving behind an estimated signing bonus of $1.4 million. It’s fairly safe to say he’s not coming back. Continue reading “Decision time for UCLA baseball players after MLB draft” »