James Farris was the starter as Arizona clinched the 2012 College World Series vs. South Carolina. Photo by Matt Ryerson-USA TODAY Sports
Three Arizona Wildcats pitchers were selected on the final day of the major-league draft Saturday, bringing the number of number of players chosen from coach Andy Lopez’s team to six.
Right-handed junior pitcher James Farris went in the 15th round (No. 437 overall) to Houston.
Senior right-handed pitcher Nick Cunningham was picked in the 20th round (No. 609 overall) by Baltimore, which also picked 6-foot-9 left-hander Augey Bill in the 39th round (No. 1,179 overall).
Farris was the team’s Saturday starter this season, going 5-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 starts.
Cunningham can impress on the radar gun, but he never lived up to the promise of his freshman year, when he posted a 4.29 record in 35 appearances. He made only 29 appearances in the next three seasons, including 12 last season, with two starts. He had a 5.72 ERA in 28 1/3 innings as a senior.
Bill, a redshirt junior, was one of the nice surprises on the UA staff last season, emerging as the team leader with a 1.98 ERA in 27 1/3 innings, spanning 26 appearances.
Three Arizona players, all juniors, were chosen Friday:
–Third baseman Brandon Dixon (third round, No. 92, Dodgers)
–Outfielder Johnny Field (fifth round, No. 158, Rays)
–Right-handed pitcher Konner Wade (seventh round, No. 199, Rockies)
Lopez will be keeping an eye on a few members of his signed recruiting class for the 2014 season.
–RHP Thomas Pannone, from Southern Nevada College, seems likely to sign after being selected in the ninth round by Cleveland.
–RHP Billy Roth from Vista (Calif.) High, went in the 16th round to Pittsburgh.
–2B Willie Calhoun from Benicia (Calif.) High was chosen in the 17th round by the Rays.
–OF Kenny Meimerstorf from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas went in the 40th (and final round) to the Brewers. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year for Nevada. Bishop Gorman has been good to Arizona, sending outfielder Joey Rickard, Field and pitcher Stephen Manthei to Tucson in recent years.