Mets select Basic’s Church in second round

Basic right-hander Andrew Church was selected by the New York Mets in the second round (No. 48 overall) of the Major League Baseball draft on Thursday.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pound Church was ranked the No. 89 prospect by Baseball America. He was the only prep player from Nevada chosen on the first day of the draft, which continues with rounds 3-10 on Friday and concludes with rounds 11-40 on Saturday.

Church sat out the last two seasons after starting his high school career at Bishop Gorman. He became eligible to pitch for Basic in April and also impressed scouts during bullpen sessions while he was ineligible.

Church's fastball routinely sits in the 90-93 mph range, and he has reached 95 mph.

Church signed a letter of intent with the University of San Diego, but he is expected to sign with the Mets, who scouted Church heavily last summer and during the spring.

“We feel like he has a chance to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter," Mets vice president of amateur scouting and player development Paul dePodesta told reporters in New York. "It’s three pitches, all for strikes. We think he has a chance for a plus breaking ball. Could also log a lot of innings. Athletic. Works fast. Fits into our overall organizational pitching philosophy.”

Mets amateur scouting director Tommy Tanous watched Church allow five hits in a complete-game victory over Green Valley in the opening round of the Division I Sunrise Region tournament and was sold.

"It was a nice mix of stuff and command," Tanous told reporters in New York. "... I went back to see Andrew pitch in his high school playoffs and he was tremendous in that game."

Former Bonanza High standout Kris Bryant was selected No. 2 overall by the Chicago Cubs. Marshall right-hander Aaron Blair, a Spring Valley graduate, was taken No. 36 by the Arizona Diamondbacks.