2021 MLB Draft: Live Updates, Tracking Where Sun Devils are Drafted
Welcome to Arizona State's hub for the 2021 MLB Draft. Here you will find updates on where Sun Devils players and commits land in the three-day, 20-round event that welcomes the future of professional baseball. This page will be consistently updated as the draft progresses.
Day 3: Final Day Gives Plenty of ASU Players Opportunity
9:08 a.m. PST- Rounds 11-20 are underway, expecting a very high-paced final day here.
9:40 a.m. PST- Man, those first two rounds FLEW by.
The first Sun Devil off the board on day three! Pitcher Erik Tolman was drafted to the Washington Nationals with the 415th overall selection in Round 14.
Some of Tolman's highlights include the following from his 2020 campaign, via his Sun Devils Athletics profile page:
- Erik Tolman had 30 strikeouts in just 18.0 innings pitched last season - holding opponents to just .143 hitting
- The 30 strikeouts were 5th in the Pac-12 last season while his 12 looking strikeouts were second
- Tolman recorded 15.00 strikeouts per nine innings, a total that was 2nd in the Pac-12 and 18th nationally
- In his three starts last year, Tolman allowed just four earned runs. He was unfazed by runners on the basepath, holding opponents to just 3-of-20 hitting (.150) with runners on
10:13 a.m. PST- Five rounds left, and plenty of ASU players still available.
Sun Devil commit Will Rogers is off the board! The Mounds View HS (MN) catcher goes to the Milwaukee Brewers with the 507th overall selection in Round 17.
More on Rogers: Another ASU commitment who will have to have some discussions and thought about his future after being drafted, Rogers now finds himself taken in the MLB Draft after posting some of the highest batting practice exit velocities at the MLB Draft Combine per Baseball America. Should Rogers prove to be a valuable bat at the next level, the services he could provide behind the plate offensively and defensively may be well worth the wait.
The second Sun Devil on day three is off the board! Pitcher Justin Fall was drafted to the Miami Marlins with the 509th overall selection in Round 17.
More on Fall: After previously being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in round 34 of the 2019 MLB Draft, Fall chose to attend Arizona State after briefly playing junior college ball at Brookedale Community College. Fall had a 7-3 starting record with 47 strikeouts and a 4.09 ERA in the past season at ASU, with Shore Sports Network offering this to say on Fall: “With 20 rounds on tap for this season, Fall is considered a strong possibility to be selected in the first half of the draft. At 6-foot-6 and featuring a fastball that has touched 95 miles-per-hour from the left side this past spring, Fall is a considered a high-upside pitcher with some work to still put in but serious potential if he can do it.”
The third Sun Devil on day three is off the board! Pitcher Cooper Benson was drafted to the Toronto Blue Jays with the 512th overall selection in Round 17.
Some facts on Benson, per his ASU Athletics page:
- Finished with a 1-1 record and a 3.60 ERA, striking out 25 in 20.0 innings of work
- Made an impressive debut for the Sun Devils against a Top-10 Michigan program, recording a quality start with 6.1 innings pitched and just two earned runs against in his first collegiate action - striking out eight with no walks
- Recorded a career-best nine strikeouts in his final appearance of the year against Fresno State over 5.2 innings
Make that a fourth ASU Sun Devil on day three! Pitcher Tyler Thornton was drafted to the Cleveland Indians with the 516th overall selection in Round 17.
More on Thornton via his ASU Athletics page:
- The sophomore posted a quality start in three of his first four starts this season, the only Sun Devil to post such a feat.
- ASU was 4-0 in games Thornton started
- Thornton was 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA with 25 strikeouts and seven walks in 24.0 innings pitched - tied for 6th in the Pac-12. His 25 strikeouts were 11th in the Pac-12.
11:38 a.m. PST- The MLB Draft is officially over. Thank you to all that followed, and go Sun Devils!
Day 2: A Plethora of Sun Devils Ready to be Drafted
After no action on Day 1, rounds 2-10 figure to have a handful of Arizona State Sun Devils hear their name called. The Pittsburgh Pirates with the 37th overall pick will get things underway today.
10:13 a.m. PST- With already five picks down, the second day of the draft is at a lightning pace compared to day one.
Finally! The first Sun Devil (commit) is off the board! Shortstop Wes Kath was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with pick No. 57 in the second round.
More on Wes Kath: Kath was Arizona State’s top-ranked commitment for the class of 2021, and after being drafted fairly high, doubts about his future in college baseball are certainly rising. Playing shortstop at state champion Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Kath earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the state of Arizona and was ranked as the state’s top player for the MLB draft. Baseball Prospect Journal’s Dan Zielinski III had this to say: “Kath is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound left-handed-hitting infielder whose best traits are his skills at the plate. Kath currently is more of a contact-over-power hitter who possesses quick hands and some natural loft in his swing. He has the size and fundamentals to develop more power at the plate as he matures. Most scouts believe Kath, a high school shortstop, will have to move to third base in pro ball. Kath has good hands, above-average arm strength and the throwing accuracy to play third base.”
10:56 a.m. PST- That was quite the buzzer beater, as Kath was seven picks away from almost slipping to the third round. It's a good thing almost doesn't count in sports!
11:10 a.m. PST- The third round is underway! If any potential teams are reading this, we highly recommend the talents of Drew Swift.
11:21 a.m. PST- Branden Boissiere becomes the second Arizona Wildcat drafted. We want a refund.
11:39 a.m. PST- Round three is officially in the books. Onto round four!
11:52 a.m. PST- Happy for Donta' Williams to go to Baltimore, not happy for the university down south for their third drafted player.
12:40 p.m. PST- Fifth round complete, and we're halfway through the second day of the draft.
1:15 p.m. PST- Round six complete, still no Sun Devils other than Wes Kath selected. We would like a second refund if possible.
1:39 p.m. PST- Three rounds left!
The Second Arizona State Sun Devil is off the board! Infielder Drew Swift now finds himself in Oakland, drafted by the A's with the 248th pick in the eight round.
Drew Swift- The reigning Pac-12 defensive player of the year is finally taken. Swift displayed versatility within the infield, playing well at second base prior to moving to the shortstop position. Swift turned 118 double plays in his Sun Devil career, along with 171 defensive assists. His .981 fielding percentage at shortstop paired with a batting average of .313 (6 HR, 38 RBI) makes Swift an interesting prospect heading into the pros.
2:05 p.m. PST- Swift found himself drafted near the very end of the eight round. Two rounds remaining for today. Will we see Will Rogers go before the action is over on this beautiful Monday?
The Third Arizona State Sun Devil is off the board! Mat Olsen was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 266th pick in round nine.
Mat Olsen- Another Arizona State commit is off the board, as right handed pitcher Mat Olsen finds himself drafted after being named Arizona’s Junior College Pitcher of the Year for Central Arizona College. With a reported strong arm that can reach in the low 90’s and a curveball that can reach the low 80’s, Olsen undoubtedly has the arm for a pitcher his age to build upon.
2:52 p.m. PST- That's a wrap on day two of the MLB Draft! 2 commits and 1 player for the Arizona State Sun Devils saw their names called today. We'll have more coverage tomorrow beginning at 9:00 a.m. PST.
Day 1: First Round Action Gets Underway
While it's hard to top the triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix, the stakes are even higher for teams trying to find their future face of the franchise. The Pittsburgh Pirates, owning the No. 1 overall pick after possessing the worst record in baseball last season, will knock over the first of many dominoes tonight.
A total of 36 picks will be made tonight, with the draft set to begin at 7 pm ET on ESPN/MLB Network. Twenty-nine of those picks will be made in the actual first round, with the Houston Astros forfeiting their first-and second-round picks as punishment for recent cheating discipline.
The Cincinnati Reds have one compensation pick after the first 29 choices, and the first day of the draft will conclude with six competitive balance picks from group A.
The teams have done their homework, and it's time to make the bacon. Let's find out where Arizona State's baseball players will begin their journey to the show:
4:08 p.m. PST- The Pittsburgh Pirates are officially on the clock. A lot of different possibilities here. If I had to take my best guess, I would assume Pittsburgh would like a player that can help them win ball games. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Update- The Pirates have selected Louisville Cardinals catcher Henry Davis with the first overall pick.
4:48 p.m. PST- We're only six picks through the first round. No Arizona State players are off the board quite yet. However, the hometown Arizona Diamondbacks have selected Jesuit Prep (TX) HS shortstop Jordan Lawlar.
5:00 p.m. PST- The Phoenix Suns are about to play game three of the NBA Finals. The MLB Draft is just eight picks in. The Suns may finish before the first round of the draft. It will be a race for the ages.
Also, we're pretty new around here. Are we absolutely sure the Sun Devils can't have a player be the number one pick every year?
5:09 p.m. PST- With Kumar Rocker heading to the New York Mets, the top ten is officially in the books. No Sun Devils off the board quite yet. Plenty of time left for that to change, however.
6:25 p.m. PST- 20 picks into the first round, still no Arizona State love on the draft board. We have a feeling Sparky is getting ready to celebrate, though.
6:47 p.m. PST- Six picks left in the first round before the extra slate of picks begin. The two dominant positions drafted thus far have been pitchers (11) and shortstops (7),
7:21 p.m. PST- The Los Angeles Dodgers complete first round action by selecting pitcher Maddux Bruns. Seven picks left on the first day of the draft!
7:51 p.m. PST- That's it for day one! The Minnesota Twins select shortstop Noah Miller to complete the first day of the draft. No ASU player heard their name called, a fact that should change relatively quickly in rounds 2-10 tomorrow.