ANAHEIM, CA – The Angels selected 13 players during rounds 3-15 of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, as announced by Angels’ Director of Scouting Ric Wilson. The Halos made their first selection of the 2012 draft during the third round today after surrendering their first and second round picks for the signings of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, respectively. The draft will conclude tomorrow (June 6) with rounds 16-40.
With their third-round pick (114 pick overall), the Angels selected right-handed pitcher R.J. Alvarez, a junior out of Florida Atlantic University. Alvarez, 20, went 5-0 with a team-leading 0.72 ERA (37.2 IP – 3 ER) and eight saves for FAU in 2012 (22 G). The right-hander recorded 47 strikeouts and allowed just 10 walks with a .155 batting average against en route to receiving first-team All-Sun Belt honors. Over the course of three collegiate seasons, the Royal Palm Beach, FL native posted a 14-7 record with 4.19 ERA (171.2 IP – 80 ER) and 168 strikeouts in 54 games (26 starts) for the Owls.
The Halos’ fourth round pick, second baseman Alex Yarbrough out of the University of Mississippi, was named to the 2012 All-SEC first team after batting .380 (95/250) with 17 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 43 RBI for the Rebels. For the second consecutive season, the Texas native led his team in average while his .350 clip in conference play ranked 10th overall in the SEC. Yarbrough also received SEC all-defensive team honors in 2012 after posting a .989 fielding percentage during his junior season at Ole Miss.
In the fifth round, Los Angeles selected right-handed pitcher Mark Sappington, a junior from Rockhurst University. Sappington led his team in nearly every pitching category during the 2012 campaign, including wins (10), ERA (1.78), complete games (5), strikeouts (101) and batting average against (.198). The Peculiar, Missouri native was also among the NCAA Division II leaders in strikeouts (10th overall) and ERA (28th). At the 177th overall pick, he becomes the highest selection ever out of Rockhurst University.
Other notable selections: Seventh round pick, C Andrew Patterson from Mary G. Montgomery HS (AL), the only draft pick selected out of high school by the Angels today; left-hander Michael Roth (9th round) from University of South Carolina and second baseman Sherman Johnson from Florida State University (14th round), both of whom are currently playing in the NCAA Super Regionals.
