UCLA Baseball: Three Bruins picked on Day 1 of the MLB Draft
While they were battling it out in the Regional against LMU, UCLA baseball players Michael Toglia, Ryan Garcia, and Chase Strumpf were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Monday was quite the day for three UCLA baseball players. Not only did first baseman Michael Toglia, RHP Ryan Garcia, and second baseman Chase Strumpf help the Bruins defeat LMU to advance to the NCAA Baseball Tournament Super Regionals, but all three were selected in the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
RELATED: UCLA Baseball Survives the LA Regional, Will Host Supers Against Michigan
Not only has this been a historic year for the Bruins, but it was also a landmark draft for UCLA who was the only school in the nation to have three players chosen in the first two rounds. On top of that, this was the second time three Bruins were selected in the first two rounds (the first time was back in 1987).
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
Starting things off was Toglia, who was taken 23rd overall by the Colorado Rockies in the first round. The Bruins’ slugger had a slow start to the season, but eventually kicked things in high gear. This season, Toglia had a batting average of .319 (5th on the team), an OPS (on-base plus slugging) percentage of 1.019 (2nd), and led the team in home runs (16), RBIs (61), and slugging percentage (.629). This is the third year in a row that Colorado has selected a Bruin.
In the second round, the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, Garcia, was taken 50th overall by the Texas Rangers. Though Garcia missed the first 12 games of the season with flexor inflammation, he did a ton of damage once he got on the mound. Not only has he gone 10-0 on the year, but he also posted the fifth-best ERA in the nation 1.42.
Following that, the Bruins saw Stumpf selected 64th overall by the Chicago Cubs. The infielder, who had a game-winning, three-run blast against LMU has been instrumental to the team this season. On top of being excellent on defense, he was at the top of several of the team’s stats including 63 hits (4th), nine home runs (4th), 44 RBIs (3rd), an OPS of .911 (3rd), and an on-base percentage of .422 (3rd).
Though the Bruins are heading to bigger and better things, they still have some business to tend to. This weekend, UCLA will take on Michigan at Jackie Robinson Stadium in the Super Regionals. The winner of the best-of-three series heads to the College World Series. Congratulations, Bruins!