Rangers Select 3 On Draft Day
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The Texas Rangers selected three players on Day 1 of the 2012 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft
With its first round selection, the 29th overall pick, Texas selected outfielder Lewis Brinson of Coral Springs High School in Coral Springs, FL.
“We are very excited to select a player of Lewis Brinson’s ability,” commented Rangers Director of Amateur Scouting Kip Fagg. “We have done a ton of work on him. He is a player with great upside and makeup who can throw, run and hit with power.”
The right-handed batter and thrower is 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds. Brinson batted .394 with 4 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, 21 RBI, and 11 stolen bases as a senior for Coral Springs. Brinson was a 4-year starter for the Colts, leading them to postseason play in 3 of his 4 seasons, after Coral Springs had qualified for the postseason only 5 times previously.
Brinson was named an Under Armour All-American and participated in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field on August 13, 2011 and the Perfect Game showcase in Jupiter, Florida. He has committed to the University of Florida.
It marks the fourth consecutive year that the Rangers have taken a high school player with their first selection in the First Year Player Draft and the 19th time in 41 seasons in Texas. It is the sixth time Texas has selected an outfielder with the first pick, the last being Jake Skole in 2010.
With its first compensation pick, the 39th overall selection received for Type A free agent C.J. Wilson (Angels), Texas selected
3B Joey Gallo from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV.
The 2012 Nevada Gatorade State Player of the Year, Gallo led the Gaels to their 7th consecutive Nevada 4A state title, hitting .509 with 21 home runs, 80 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. The left-handed swinging Gallo’s 80 RBI set a new Nevada single-season record, while his 65 career home runs are the most in state history. A two-way player as a right-handed pitcher, Gallo also went 1-1 on the mound with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/13.2 IP) and 23 strikeouts against 10 walks in 5 games, including a no-hitter.
Measuring at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, the 18-year-old Gallo was tabbed by Baseball America as the Best Power Hitter and having the third-best arm among high school draft prospects. The left-handed hitter is committed to LSU.
With its second compensation pick, the 53rd overall selection received for Type B free agent Darren Oliver, (Blue Jays), Texas selected RHP Collin Wiles from Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, KS.
The right-handed thrower and batter is 6-foot-4 and 187 pounds. Wiles went 8-0 with a 0.10 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 49.1 innings. Wiles also batted .375 with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored, while leading the Jaguars to a 21-3 record and the Class 6A state final in 2011.
Wiles was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year for Kansas and is a finalist for the national award. He was also a first team all-state selection in Kansas. Wiles has committed to Vanderbilt University.
The Draft resumes on Tuesday (Rounds 2-15) and Wednesday (Rounds 16-40), both at 11:00 a.m. CT.
