Five players from UCSB’s baseball team were selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft on Wednesday, bringing the total number of Gauchos selected in the three-day event to six.
After left-handed pitcher Mario Hollands was chosen in the 10th round on Tuesday, his teammates infielder Matt Valaika, right-handed pitcher Sam Phippen, left-handed pitcher Kevin Gelinas, right-handed pitcher Jesse Meaux and outfielder Gunnar Terhune were all chosen on Wednesday.
“We’re really happy for these guys,” UCSB head coach Bob Brontsema said. “This is a dream they’ve all had from the first time they strapped on their cleats. Now they have to sit and decide what’s the best fit for them right now and, as always, we anxiously await their decision.”
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DRAFT RESULTS
Valaika, who returned to UCSB for his senior season, was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 34th round (pick No. 1039 overall). This past season Valaika was an All-Big West Honorable Mention pick for the second straight year after hitting .301 with nine doubles, four home runs and a team-best 35 RBI. The Valencia native also scored 32 runs, ranking him third on the squad.
“I wasn’t watching the draft because I was studying for a final,” Valaika said. “I got a call from a scout asking me if I was watching it and when I told him I wasn’t, he said I was crazy. I was excited and kind of in disbelief. I hadn’t talked to the Cardinals really all year. Now I’m excited.”
The next Gaucho to be selected was right-handed pitcher Sam Phippen, chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the 41st round (No. 1238 overall). Phippen, who was the only Division I athlete to play on both his school’s basketball and baseball teams, was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in seven games this season. The 6-foot-9 junior pitcher was playing baseball for the first time since pitching for his Durango High team in his hometown of Durango, Colo. nearly four years ago.
The New York Mets took another Gaucho reliever, Kevin Gelinas, in round 44 (No. 1322 overall) a year after he was picked in the 45th round. Gelinas pitched in only four games this past season due to injury, but posted a 1-0 record with a 3.60 ERA and six strikeouts in five innings.
Jesse Meaux was chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies – the team that took Hollands – not long after Gelinas with pick No. 1341, also in the 44th round. Meaux had a breakout junior season going 8-3 with a 4.41 ERA. He was an All-Big West Honorable Mention selection and led the Gauchos in victories. He also ranked in the Big West’s top-10 in innings pitched and fewest walks.
“It feels good,” Meaux said. “I’m relieved. It’s a great feeling right now; I’m happy. It’s not quite as high as I wanted to go, but it’s still nice to get out there in the draft.”
Gunnar Terhune, who was the Gauchos’ leadoff batter each of the past two seasons, was taken by his hometown San Diego Padres in the 50th round (pick No. 1504 overall). Terhune batted .280 this season and led the Gauchos in triples and stolen bases.
