Post by The Admin on Jul 13, 2021 7:11:28 GMT -6
MLB Draft: A look at where players with Oklahoma connections are headed
www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2021/07/12/mlb-draft-oklahomans-picked-draft-where-they-headed/7943694002/
Oklahoma’s 2021 MLB Draft opened with a bang Sunday night.
Heritage Hall ace pitcher Jackson Jobe was picked No. 3 overall by the Detroit Tigers, becoming the highest draft pick for an in-state high school player.
But the draft continued Monday and Tuesday.
Here is a look at other players drafted with Oklahoma connections:
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Oklahoma State
OSU’s slugging third baseman is headed to the Twin Cities.
Minnesota selected Encarnacion-Strand in the fourth round with pick No. 128 overall.
Encarnacion-Strand was the Cowboys’ most-feared hitter this spring — his lone season with the team — while becoming one of the best hitters in the country.
He batted .361 with 15 homers and 82 RBIs, which was tied for sixth in the country.
Tyler Hardman, Oklahoma
Oklahoma first baseman Tyler Hardman became the first Sooner to hear his name called in the 2021 MLB Draft on Monday.
The New York Yankees selected the redshirt junior in the fifth round, No. 153 overall. With the pick, Hardman became the first Oklahoma first baseman to be drafted since 2013.
Hardman batted .397 while racking up 12 home runs and 49 RBIs last season. The strong campaign helped him earn first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American selections.
Hardman is a veteran player who boasts good bat speed and patience at the plate. He also continues to get in better shape, knocking 14 pounds off his listed weight between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Hardman was ranked by MLB.com as the seventh-best first baseman and the 194th overall prospect in the draft.
Wyatt Olds, Oklahoma
The Boston Red Sox selected Oklahoma pitcher Wyatt Olds in the seventh round, 196th overall.
The redshirt sophomore pitched in 19 games for the Sooners last season. He recorded 101 strikeouts in just under 76 innings and finished the campaign with a 5.23 ERA.
Olds is a right-handed prospect who has a bit of an unorthodox delivery, which makes him struggle with control over longer stints. Still, he boasts a fastball that can reach the mid-90s and a go-to slider.
Jason Ruffcorn, Oklahoma
Jason Ruffcorn became the third Sooner to hear his name called on Monday.
The Philadelphia Phillies selected the redshirt senior in the eighth round, 235th overall. Ruffcorn recorded a 3.09 ERA during his three seasons with Oklahoma and received a second-team All-Big 12 selection in both 2019 and 2021.
Ruffcorn has the potential to become a solid closer in the pros. His fastball can reach the upper-90s, which helped him rack up 114 strikeouts in 99 career innings.
Philadelphia is also a fitting landing spot for Ruffcorn. His father, Scott Ruffcorn, pitched for the Phillies in 1997.
www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2021/07/12/mlb-draft-oklahomans-picked-draft-where-they-headed/7943694002/
Oklahoma’s 2021 MLB Draft opened with a bang Sunday night.
Heritage Hall ace pitcher Jackson Jobe was picked No. 3 overall by the Detroit Tigers, becoming the highest draft pick for an in-state high school player.
But the draft continued Monday and Tuesday.
Here is a look at other players drafted with Oklahoma connections:
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Oklahoma State
OSU’s slugging third baseman is headed to the Twin Cities.
Minnesota selected Encarnacion-Strand in the fourth round with pick No. 128 overall.
Encarnacion-Strand was the Cowboys’ most-feared hitter this spring — his lone season with the team — while becoming one of the best hitters in the country.
He batted .361 with 15 homers and 82 RBIs, which was tied for sixth in the country.
Tyler Hardman, Oklahoma
Oklahoma first baseman Tyler Hardman became the first Sooner to hear his name called in the 2021 MLB Draft on Monday.
The New York Yankees selected the redshirt junior in the fifth round, No. 153 overall. With the pick, Hardman became the first Oklahoma first baseman to be drafted since 2013.
Hardman batted .397 while racking up 12 home runs and 49 RBIs last season. The strong campaign helped him earn first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American selections.
Hardman is a veteran player who boasts good bat speed and patience at the plate. He also continues to get in better shape, knocking 14 pounds off his listed weight between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Hardman was ranked by MLB.com as the seventh-best first baseman and the 194th overall prospect in the draft.
Wyatt Olds, Oklahoma
The Boston Red Sox selected Oklahoma pitcher Wyatt Olds in the seventh round, 196th overall.
The redshirt sophomore pitched in 19 games for the Sooners last season. He recorded 101 strikeouts in just under 76 innings and finished the campaign with a 5.23 ERA.
Olds is a right-handed prospect who has a bit of an unorthodox delivery, which makes him struggle with control over longer stints. Still, he boasts a fastball that can reach the mid-90s and a go-to slider.
Jason Ruffcorn, Oklahoma
Jason Ruffcorn became the third Sooner to hear his name called on Monday.
The Philadelphia Phillies selected the redshirt senior in the eighth round, 235th overall. Ruffcorn recorded a 3.09 ERA during his three seasons with Oklahoma and received a second-team All-Big 12 selection in both 2019 and 2021.
Ruffcorn has the potential to become a solid closer in the pros. His fastball can reach the upper-90s, which helped him rack up 114 strikeouts in 99 career innings.
Philadelphia is also a fitting landing spot for Ruffcorn. His father, Scott Ruffcorn, pitched for the Phillies in 1997.
