Four Bruins Selected on Final Day of MLB Draft
June 14, 2017 | Baseball
NEW YORK โ UCLA right-handed pitcher Scott Burke, infielder Nick Valaika, outfielder Brett Stephens and right-handed pitcher Moises Ceja were each selected on the final day of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday. Burke was selected 608th overall in the 20th round to the Baltimore Orioles, Valaika was taken as the 718th overall pick in the 24th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stephens was selected 836th overall in the 28th round to the Colorado Rockies, while Moises Ceja was also selected by the Rockies as the 956th overall pick in the 32nd round.
In 13 seasons as UCLA's head coach, John Savage has produced 88 MLB draft selections, including 32 players being drafted within the first 10 rounds. Today's picks bring the program's total to 270 all-time MLB Draft selections. In total, six Bruins were selected in this year's draft, the most since 2015 when eight UCLA players were drafted.
Burke, a native of Glendora, Calif., appeared in 35 games on the mound this season, good for eighth in the NCAA. He led the team with five saves and posted a record of 0-3 with a 2.51 ERA. Burke led all UCLA relievers with 47 strikeouts and 43.0 innings pitched. He also held opponents to a .222 batting average against. In Pac-12 play, Burke made 17 relief appearance, third in the conference, and recorded a 2.74 ERA. He struck out 23 batters in conference play and held Pac-12 opponents to a .244 batting average against. Burke tied career-high 3.1 scoreless innings against Washington on April 9. He also struck out four batters against No. 1 Oregon State on April 22. Burke is a two-time honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic selection.
Valaika, a native of Valencia, Calif., started in 21 games at shortstop this season before suffering a season-ending hand injury after being hit by a pitch. He hit .225 with 12 runs scored and nine RBIs. Valaika slugged .388 with three home runs and four doubles and posted a .267 on-base percentage. He totaled six multi-hit games during limited action. Valaika drove in three runs with a home run versus California on March 24 and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run at Texas on March 10. His brother, Pat, played for UCLA from 2011-13 and currently plays for the Colorado Rockies after being drafted in the ninth round in 2013.
Stephens, a native of Moraga, Calif., was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention after hitting .278 with 38 runs scored and 21 RBIs. He was one of only two players to appear in all 57 games and became the 16th UCLA player since 1975 to play in over 200 career games. Stephens slugged .373 with 12 doubles and two home runs and recorded a .365 on-base percentage with 23 walks. During Pac-12 play, Stephens hit .300 and scored a team-high 26 runs and drove in nine runners. He slugged .409 against conference opponents with a .386 on-base percentage. Stephens was the second UCLA player this season to hit two home runs in a game against Washington on April 7. He tied a career-high with four base hits at Oregon on May 27 and also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored at USC on May 6.
Ceja, a native of Arleta, Calif., made 21 appearances on the mound this season, including 10 starts after stepping into the Saturday starter role during the middle of the year. He posted a 2-5 record with a 3.52 ERA. Ceja struck out 42 batters and finished third on the team in innings pitched with 61.1. He held opponents to a .262 batting average against. Ceja made 11 appearances during Pac-12 play, including seven starts and finished with a 1-2 record and a 3.68 ERA. He struck out 27 batters in 36.2 innings during conference play. Ceja ranked inside the top-10 during Pac-12 play in hits allowed, runs allowed and earned runs allowed. He tossed 6.0 scoreless innings with six punch outs against No. 1 Oregon state on April 22. Ceja also allowed only two runs over 5.2 innings versus Arizona on March 18.
Additionally, UCLA commits Garrett Mitchell (411th overall, 14th round), Sam Glick (1178th overall, 39th round) and Chase Farrell (1201st overall, 40th round) were drafted on the final day. In total, six UCLA NLI signees were selected in the MLB Draft.
