The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected 13 players on Tuesday, the second day of the MLB Draft. The Halos had given up their first- and second-round picks with the signings of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, respectively, so their day started in the third round. With the 114th overall pick, the Angels took RHP R.J. Alvarez of Florida Atlantic. According to a press release from the team, 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.
With their second pick of the day, the Halos went with second baseman Alex Yarbrough out of the University of Mississippi. Yarbrough 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.
The Angels followed up that pick by taking right-handed pitcher Mark Sappington in the fifth round. Sappington is a junior from Rockhurst University in Missouri, and 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.
Here follows a rundown of the day's haul.
Rd 3 R.J. (Roy) Alvarez RHP Florida Atlantic U. (Royal Palm Beach, FL)
Rd 4 Alex Yarbrough 2B University of Mississippi (Allen, TX)
Rd 5 Mark Sappington RHP Rockhurst (MO) University (Peculiar, MO)
Rd 6 Eric Stamets SS University of Evansville (Dublin, OH)
Rd 7 Andrew Patterson C Mary G. Montgomery HS (Semmes, AL)
Rd 8 Austin Adams RHP University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)
Rd 9 Michael Roth LHP University of South Carolina (Greer, SC)
Rd 10 Christopher O'Grady LHP George Mason University (Congers, NY)
Rd 11 Jonathan Walsh LF University of Texas (Coppell, TX)
Rd 12 Zachary Wright C East Carolina University (Goldsboro, NC)
Rd 13 Michael Morin RHP University of North Carolina (Leawood, KS)
Rd 14 Sherman Johnson 2B Florida State University (Tampa, FL)
Rd 15 Reid Scoggins RHP Howard (TX) College (Dallas, TX)
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