Cats’ Waldschmidt taken by Diamondbacks in first round of MLB Draft

Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt was chosen as the 31st overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday night.

Waldschmidt became the seventh first-round selection in school history and the third player drafted in the first round under Nck Mingione. Zack Thompson (2019) and Evan White (2017) were previous first-round selections under Mingione. A total of 36 players have been drafted in the Mingione era.

The star outfielder and leadoff hitter finished the season batting .333 in 59 games with 66 runs, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 41 walks, 16 hit by pitch and 25 stolen bases.

Australian second baseman Travis Bazzana was taken by the Cleveland Guardians with the No. 1 pick and three players from Wake Forest were selected in the top 10, including pitcher Chad Burns to the Cincinnati Reds with the second pick.

A former cricket, rugby and soccer player who came to the United States to play baseball for Oregon State, the 21-year-old Bazzana hit .407 with 28 homers and 66 RBIs this season. He became the first Australian and first second baseman taken No. 1.

“An opportunity to make an impact on a lot of baseball players and a lot of people back home in Australia, and hopefully change the narrative for baseball there,” Bazzana said.

Kentucky ousted Oregon State from the postseason by sweeping the Beavers in the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. Bazzana was only 1-for-7 against UK in that series.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

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