BASEBALL: Gonzalez, Hand chosen on final day of draft
Two local prep players were selected Saturday during the final day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Gabe Gonzalez of Arbor View was chosen in the 13th round (No. 396 overall) by the Texas Rangers, and Shadow Ridge catcher Jordan Hand went in the 34th round (No. 1,015) to the New York Mets in what proved to be a light year for area high school prospects.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pound Gonzalez signed with UNLV in November and was drafted as a right-handed pitcher by the Rangers. Gonzalez was named second-team All-Sunset Region as a senior after going 3-2 with a 2.85 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. He also hit .392 with three home runs and 22 RBIs for the Aggies.
Hand (6-3, 215) was a second-team all-state selection as he hit .438, with nine doubles, three triples, four home runs, 15 RBIs and 29 runs scored for the Mustangs. Hand has orally committed to Cal State-Fullerton.