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.
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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).
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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).
Michael Toglia (@michaeltoglia) was the first round selection of the @Rockies, going 23rd overall.
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) June 4, 2019
He is UCLA's first position player to be selected in the first round since Chase Utley in 2000!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/rXxDGOpMPr
Ryan Garcia (@ryan_garcia__) was the ninth pick of the second round, going 50th overall to the @Rangers!
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) June 4, 2019
Ryan was named a First Team All-American and Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year earlier this season, and currently sports a 10-0 record and 1.36 ERA.#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/31deoOiNON
Chase Strumpf (@CStrumpf) was UCLA's third draft pick of the day after being selected in the second round by the @Cubs!
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) June 4, 2019
Strumpf, a unanimous First Team Preseason All-American, hit a three-run home run for UCLA moments after being drafted.
Congrats, Chase!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/Qg6fLfSXJn
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!