Five former Ban Johnson League players were taken in the June First Year Player Draft by Major League Baseball teams.
2015 Rick Sutcliffe Pitcher of the Year Dalton Moats was taken in the 13th round by Tampa. He has signed.
He played for UMB Bank in 2015 where he had a 4-0 record with an 0.78 ERA. He only walked five in 27 innings.
“Dalton is a six-foot three inch left handed pitcher and very athletic,” UMB manager Cary Lundy said. “He was drafted out of high school. He runs it up there in the low 90’s, and his secondary pitches are plus, plus pitches. He throws strikes and spots his pitches very well. He will do well and if he stays healthy has a chance to make it.
Moats is a graduate of Park Hill High School and attended Northeastern Oklahoma CC before enrolling at Delta State in Mississippi for the 2016 season.
He had a 12-3 record at Delta State with a 2.65 ERA. He fanned 115 batters in 112 innings.
Moats was a second team All-Gulf South Conference pick.
“The secret to success for me is getting ahead on strike one,” he said. “Once I get ahead I can come at you with all different angles.”
University of Kansas senior right-hander Sam Gilbert was taken in the 19th round by the Oakland A’s and has signed. He pitched in the 2015 season with the KCSC Blaze and had the top ERA in the league at 0.36. He was second with a 11.4 strikeouts/game.
The Pittsburg, KS native pitched two years at Fort Scott Community College and two years as a reliever for the Jayhawks. He was a position player who was switched to pitching.
Gilbert runs the ball up to the plate in the low to mid 90s.
“I am excited to continue my baseball career in the Oakland Athletics organization,” he said. “There is nothing that can explain the feeling of having a lifelong dream come true.”
The other players taken are second baseman Logan Gray. He was taken in the 13th round by the Royals out of Austin Peay and has signed. He is a graduate of Rockhurst High School and played for Building Champions in 2013.
Pitcher Robert Calvano was taken in the 38th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played for the KCSC Blues in 2013. He was drafted out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Another pitcher, Lucas Williams, was taken in the 40th round by the Houston Astros. He played in 2013 for the KC A’s and pitched for the University of Central Missouri.
