Nine Bruins Selected In First Day of Major League Draft
Utley joins Rob Henkel, Garrett Atkins, Bill Scott, Ryan Carter, Forrest Johnson, Charles Merricks, Chad Cislak and Nick Lyon selected today. The largest group of Bruins to be selected in a draft was 10 in 1991 and the record is 11 set by USC in 1998. With 30 rounds still remaining in this year's draft which continues tomorrow, the Bruins have good chance to reach either of those numbers.
Utley, who ends the 2000 season with a .382 batting average, 108 hits (tied for second-best in school history), 22 home runs and 69 RBI, was the 15th overall selection in the first round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Utley earned first-team All-America honors from the Sporting News, third-team All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball and All-Pac-10 honors, and was also named the Oklahoma City Regional's Most Outstanding Player this season.
Utley, a Long Beach, Calif. native, became the fourth ever Bruin to reach the 20 home run, 100 hit plateau and teamed with Bill Scott to be just the second duo in UCLA and Pac-10 history to rack up 20 home runs and 100 hits in a single season. For good measure, Utley and Scott have combined for the most hits by teammates in Pac-10 history (220 total hits). The previous record was 216 by Kevin Romine and Mike Sodders of ASU in 1981.
"I'm very excited," Utley said. "Philadelphia is a great organization and I couldn't be more happy. I can't wait to get out there and play."
Utley and Carter, both selections by Philadelphia, join four other former Bruins (Eric Valent, Pete Zamora, Tom Jacquez and Chris Pritchett) in the Philly organization.
"It's good to see Chase Utley being drafted in the first round by Philadelphia," UCLA head coach Gary Adams said. "Chase was drafted in the second round by the Dodgers three years ago. At the time, he turned down quite a bit of money, and a lot of people second-guessed him. But Chase all along has been happy with his choice to come to UCLA and I think it shows today with the result of being chosen in the first round today."
Henkel, a native of La Mesa, Calif., was the top selection in the third round, a 71st pick overall by Florida. Henkel was drafted in the 20th round by the New York Mets last year, but opted to return to UCLA for his junior season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March of 1998. The junior right-hander came back to strike out 136 batters this season, third-best in UCLA history. Henkel struck out a school record 18 batters vs. Washington March 25 and became the first Bruin to earn three National Player of the Week awards in a single season. He ends the 2000 season with a 6-4 record and a 5.68 ERA.
"Rob had a good year for us. He is an outstanding prospect and I can see him pitching for Florida in the very near future. He will climb very fast in the ranks with the Marlins," Coach Adams said.
Atkins, the first three-time All-American in UCLA history, was selected in the fifth round, 137th pick overall, by the Colorado Rockies. The Irvine, Calif. native started every single game of his UCLA career and ends his Bruin tenure tied for second on the career batting average list with a .369 clip (276-for-748). Atkins also ranks second on the UCLA career hits list with 275, behind Eric Byrnes' (1995-98) 326 hits. The junior first baseman ends the 2000 season hitting .352 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI.
"I'm excited because they have a great hitters ballpark," Atkins said. "Denver is a great town and it's a plus that the Rockies' minor league teams are on the West Coast."
"Garrett will really have a heyday when he begins play with the Colorado Rockies, what a great hitter's ballpark," Coach Adams said.
Scott, a native of Granada Hills, Calif., was selected in the eighth round, 231st pick overall, by the Milwaukee Brewers. Scott set a UCLA single season record with 112 hits this year, breaking the previous record of 108 set by Troy Glaus in 1997. This season, he earned first-team All-America honors by Baseball Weekly and Collegiate Baseball and was an All-Pac-10 selection for the second year in a row. Scott ended 2000 with a .421 average, just seven points away from the UCLA single-season batting average record. The junior left fielder added 23 doubles, 21 home runs and 76 RBI in 2000. Scott has the highest career batting average of any former or current Bruin with a .389 clip (224-for-568).
"Billy had an outstanding career with us at UCLA," Coach Adams said. "I know he was hampered by injuries this year, a sprained ankle at times, a bad wrist at others. Despite the injuries, he had a tremendous year and I can see him playing with Milwaukee in the next year or two."
Carter joined Scott as an eighth round selection, being the 235th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Modesto, Calif. native earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors and was named to the Oklahoma City Regional All-Tournament team this season. This season, Carter led the Bruins with 23 appearances and four saves. The 6-7 left-hander finished 2000 with a 3-1 record, a 5.65 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.
"It was no surprise to me that Ryan Carter was selected in the eighth round," Coach Adams said. "Although he was not one of our starting pitchers this year, he came on strong at the end of the season and he also showed how well he can pitch in relief. I think Ryan has a tremendous future."
Johnson, a native of Rialto, Calif., was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round, the 378th overall pick. The junior catcher led the Bruins with 23 home runs and 78 RBI this season. He also had a .351 batting average, 21 doubles and three triples. This season, he earned second-team All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball and All-Pac-10 honors. Johnson was also selected to the Oklahoma City Regional All-Tournament team and named Pac-10 Player of the Week twice. He finished the regular season ranked among the top five in five Pac-10 offensive categories: home runs (tied for second with 21), hits (fifth with 84), doubles (tied for fifth with 19), RBI (tied for third with 72) and total bases (fourth with 172).
"My understanding is that Detroit is not real deep in the catching department, and I think Forrest will climb the ladder to the major leagues quickly," Coach Adams said.
Merricks, Cislak and Lyon rounded out the nine Bruins selected today. Merricks, a native of Oxnard, Calif., was drafted by Colorado in the 17th round. Merricks, the Bruins' junior center fielder, ended the season hitting .257 with two home runs and 33 RBI but will most likely be used as a pitcher in professional ball. He was named to the Oklahoma City Regional All-Tournament team as well.
Cislak, a native of Tucson, Ariz., was selected in the 19th round by Cleveland, the 576th pick overall. The junior right-hander ended the 2000 season with a 0-5 record and an 11.25 ERA and was one of the three captains on this year's Bruin squad. Junior right-fielder Nick Lyon from Monroe, Wash. was the final Bruin to be drafted today, in the 20th round by Tampa Bay. Lyon started 38 of the first 39 games of the season, before missing a good portion of the season with a hamstring injury. He ended the season hitting .341 with eight doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 28 RBI.