While most Husky fans are focused on the drafting of Shaq Thompson, the four Diamond Dawgs that were drafted have been overshadowed. Infielder Jacob Lamb, Pitcher Aaron West, and catchers Chase Anselment and B.K. Santy were also picked in the draft. Two incoming recruits were also selected.
Lamb, a junior third baseman, was taken in the sixth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. This isn’t the first time the Bishop Blanchet product has been selected. He was a 38th round pick coming out of high school, but he elected to attend the udub instead. In his three years as a Husky, Lamb hit .326 with a career .404 OBP. I would expect him to sign with Arizona and depart from the Washington baseball program. He will be able to get a pretty good signing bonus as a sixth round pick, and he will be in higher demand now than if he chooses to sign after his senior year of college.
Senior pitcher Aaron West was the next Dawg taken in the draft. He was the 17th round pick of the Houston Astros. West led the Huskies in starts this year and posted an impressive 2.53 ERA. From the Huskies’ perspective, it is pretty irrelevant weather or not West signs to play pro baseball since he is not eligible to play for the Huskies next year, but I expect that he will take the next step in his career. Former Husky pitcher, Forrest Snow, signed out of college as a 36th round pick, and he has made excellent progress through the Mariner farm system.
Catcher Chase Anselment was taken just a few picks after West, but he was selected as an outfielder by the Braves. Anselment hit .325 for the Huskies last year while driving in 20 runs. Like Lamb, he is a junior, but he is less likely to sign a contract. Anselment may receive a higher signing bonus if he can get drafted higher next year. Unlike Lamb who probably won’t get drafted earlier than he was this year, Anselment has the potential to be a pick in the first ten rounds next year. His spot in the 2013 draft will depend greatly on his progress in the off-season and performance next season, but the new MLB collective bargaining agreement raises the demand for college players, so guys like Anselment are in higher demand than before. I wouldn’t be too surprised to see the Husky catcher return to Washington for his senior year.
Fellow catcher B.K. Santy was the final current Husky taken in the MLB draft this year. He was picked in the 30th round by the Twins. Santy was the everyday backstop for the Huskies this year and contributed a .282 average at the plate as well. Like West, Santy is a senior so will likely give the MiLB a chance.
Apart from current members of the Washington Husky baseball roster, there were two high school signees of the Dawgs who were selected. Californian outfielder, Braden Bishop, was selected in the 36th round, but I would be shocked if he passed up college baseball for the nearly non-existent signing bonus of a late round pick. Bishop’s draft stock fell due to signability questions, especially under the new collective bargaining agreement which severely limits the signing bonuses teams can give.
Catcher Austin Rei was also drafted, but he is also unlikely to sign. Expect both high school recruits to be in Purple and Gold next season.