DENVER - Major League Baseball concluded the annual First-Year Player Draft on Saturday with a total of 12 players from the WAC claimed by professional baseball clubs.
2016 WAC Player of the Year
Daniel Johnson was the first player from the conference to be drafted, going to the Washington Nationals in the fifth round. Recently named NCBWA Player of the Month for May, he finished his junior season with a .382 average in 57 games with 11 doubles, seven triples, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.
Potentially joining Johnson in the Nationals' farm system looks to be Grand Canyon senior shortstop
Paul Panaccione, who was selected by Washington in the 10th round with the 304th overall pick. Panaccione, the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, hit .363 in 41 games for the Lopes. He finished his senior season with nine doubles, four home runs and 26 RBIs.
On the final day of the draft, North Dakota southpaw
Zach Muckenhirn was the first WAC player selected, going in the 11th round to the Baltimore Orioles. NM State's
Joe Galindo went in the 13th round to the San Diego Padres and Utah Valley's
Danny Beddes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th round.
Sacramento State had back-to-back players taken with
Tyler Beardsley going to the Minnesota Twins in the 16th round and
Sam Long selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round. CSU Bakersfield had their first player taken in the 19th round as
Dustin Frailey was picked by the Detroit Tigers.
Seattle U's
Brock Carpenter was the first Redhawk selected with the Los Angeles Dodgers selecting the infielder in the 20th round. NM State saw its third player selected in the 23rd round with the Baltimore Orioles selecting
Tyler Erwin. The Redhawks then saw their second player selected with
Michael McCann going to the reigining World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
The Miami Marlins made
Gunner Pollman the third Sacramento State player taken in the 26th round to round out the conference players drafted on Saturday.
| Round-Pick |
|
Team |
Player |
Pos. |
School |
| 5-154 |
 |
Washington |
Daniel Johnson |
OF |
NM State |
| 10-304 |
|
Washington |
Paul Panaccione |
SS |
Grand Canyon |
| 11-331 |
 |
Baltimore |
Zach Muckenhirn |
P |
North Dakota |
| 13-384 |
 |
San Diego |
Joe Galindo |
P |
NM State |
| 15-465 |
 |
Pittsburgh |
Danny Beddes |
P |
Utah Valley |
| 16-483 |
 |
Minnesota |
Tyler Beardsley |
P |
Sacramento State |
| 18-540 |
 |
Tampa Bay |
Sam Long |
P |
Sacramento State |
| 19-565 |
 |
Detroit |
Dustin Frailey |
OF |
CSU Bakersfield |
| 20-611 |
 |
Los Angeles (N) |
Brock Carpenter |
3B |
Seattle U |
| 23-691 |
|
Baltimore |
Tyler Erwin |
P |
NM State |
| 24-733 |
 |
Kansas City |
Michael McCann |
C |
Seattle U |
| 26-773 |
 |
Miami |
Gunner Pollman |
C |
Sacramento State |