Seven Torero Baseball Players Selected in MLB Draft

Seven Torero Baseball Players Selected in MLB Draft

Riley Adams, Toronto Blue Jays DrafteeRight-handed pitcher Jonathan Teaney was among seven Torero baseball players selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. Teaney was a 20th-round pick of the Cleveland Indians.

Seven University of San Diego baseball players were recently selected in the June 12-14 Major League Baseball Draft, including West Coast Conference Player of the Year, Riley Adams, who was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 24th pick of the third round (No. 99 overall) on June 13.

On the year, Adams batted .312 with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 45 runs scored. His numbers in WCC play were equally impressive. He batted a team-best .380 with nine doubles, eight homers, 25 RBIs, 21 runs scored, and WCC-leading .710 slugging percentage. Additionally, he did an outstanding job behind the plate handling Torero pitchers and being a team leader.

Adams, in addition to his WCC honor, was named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region Second Team and was a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the nation's top collegiate catcher.

Adams’ selection marks the fifth consecutive season in which a Torero player has been drafted among first three rounds. 

Following Adams’ selection on the draft’s second day, six more Toreros were picked on the draft’s third and final day. The Toreros selected were: First baseman Roman Garcia (19th round, Houston Astros), right-handed pitcher Jonathan Teaney (20th round, Cleveland Indians), outfielder-catcher Colton Waltner (21st round, Minnesota Twins), right-handed pitcher Sean Barry (21st round, Chicago Cubs), left-handed pitcher Troy Conyers (23rd round, Atlanta Braves) and outfielder Hunter Mercado-Hood (31st round, L.A. Dodgers). 

Having seven Toreros drafted marked the third time in the last four years that at least seven USD players were picked in the MLB Draft. 

Garcia, from Chula Vista, Calif., had a breakout senior campaign for USD, which earned him All-WCC honorable mention. The infielder hit .292 while leading the team in home runs (14), doubles (22) RBI (53) and slugging percentage (.598). His 22 doubles tied for the second most ever in a single season in program history. 

Teaney, a junior right-hander from Palmdale, Calif., struck out 50 batters in 39 innings, posting a 5-1 record, which tied him for second most wins on the team. He held his opponents to a batting average of .231 and averaged 10.91 strikeouts per nine innings in his USD career. 

Waltner, who missed the entire 2016 season due to injury, rebounded to hit .290 in 2017 while playing stellar defense in center field. Drafted as a catcher by the Twins, Waltner, was a perfect 14-for-14 in stolen bases this past season. 

A 6-2 senior transfer from Santa Barbara City College, Sean Barry went 5-1 with a 4.43 ERA in 42.2 innings of work. Barry, a member of the WCC All-Academic team, was one of the most reliable arms in the Torero bullpen. He recorded 54 strikeouts and held opposing batters to a low .241 batting average. 

Conyers, a 6-5 southpaw from Lakeside, Calif., had a stellar 2.70 ERA in 46.2 innings as a redshirt senior. The All-WCC honorable mention selection only walked 13 batters while holding the opposition to an average of .221. Striking out 65 batters, Conyers finished the year with 13 saves, tied for the third most in a single season in program history. The USD closer was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List. 

Mercado-Hood (Brentwood, Calif.), an All-WCC second-team selection, had his best season in his senior year for the Toreros. Overall, he hit .314 with nine home runs and 38 RBI. He led the team in runs scored (47) and was second in doubles (18). 

— USD Athletics 

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