How recent local MLB high-draft picks faring today

June 4, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Often early-round draft picks in major league baseball make a big splash the day they are selected and unless they've made the bigs, aren't heard of again.

Not going to happen here. Here's a look at the past four drafts (2010-2013) and how Arizona prep players taken between the first- and sixth-rounds are doing:

2010 DRAFT

Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Desert Mountain HS: Lindsey was the 37th pick overall by the Los Angeles Angels. He's currently playing for the Salt Lake City Bees (AAA affiliate of the Angels). Lindsey is hitting .233 this season and is on the disabled list.

Sammy Solis, LHP, Agua Fria HS: Solis was the 51st pick overall by the Washington Nationals. He was originally drafted in 2007 by Arizona, but chose not to sign and play in college. Solis is currenlty nursing an elbow injury and has made only one start for the Nationas AA team in Harrisburg, Penn.

2011 DRAFT

CJ Cron, 1B, Mountain Pointe HS: Cron was the 17th pick overall by the Los Angeles Angels. He played collegiately at Utah before getting drafted in 2011. He made his major league debut on May 3 this year and is currently hitting .299 with three homers and 11 RBI

Kevin Cron, 1B-C, Mountain Pointe HS: The younger Cron was the 92nd pick overall by the Seattle Mariners. Cron did not sign and is currenty playing at Texas Christian.

Riccio Torrez, 3B, Brophy Prep: Torrez was the 150th pick overall by the Tamp Bay Rays. He played at ASU before being drafted out of college. Torrez was playing for Tampa Bay's AA team in Montgomery, Alabama this season, but retired a week ago. He was batting .179 for the Montgomery Biscuits.

Tayler Scott, RHP, Notre Dame Prep: Tayler was the 159th pick by the Chicago Cubs. He is playing for Chicago's High A team in Daytona, Fla. He as 3-4 record with a 4.40 earned-run average this season.

2012 DRAFT

Mitch Nay, 3B, Hamilton HS: Nay was the 58th pick overall by the Toronto Blue Jays. He missed his rookie season with a injury and is currently with the Lansing Lugnuts, Toronto's High A affiliate. Nay is hitting .263 with two homers and 20 RBI.

Dylan Cozens, OF, Chaparral HS: Cozens was the 77th pick overall by the Philadelphia Phillies. He plays for the Phillies  High A affiliate, the Lakewood Blueclaws. Cozens is batting .243 with seven homers and 23 RBI this season.

Joey DeMichele, 2B, Arcadia HS: DeMichele was the 105th pick overall by the Chicago White Sox.  He attended ASU and was drafted after playing for the Sun Devils. DeMichele plays for Winston-Salem Dash, the White Sox Class A affiliate. DeMichele is batting .242 with two homers and 14 RBI this season.

Jake Barrett, RHP, Desert Ridge HS: Barrett was the 120th pick overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He attended ASU was drafted after playing for the Sun Devils. Barrett plays for Arizona's AA affiilate, the Mobile BayBears. Barrett is 1-0 this season with 1.83 ERA and nine saves.

Joey Curletta, OF, Mountain Pointe HS: Curletta was the 206th pick overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers.Curletta, who was committed to Arizona prior to signing, played first base in high school and has moved to the outfield. Curletta has advanced to the Dodgers Class A affiliate, the Great Lakes Loons. He is hitting .311 with two homers and 26 RBI in 56 games.

2013 DRAFT

DJ Peterson, 3B, Gilbert HS: Peterson was the 12th pick overall by the Seattle Mariners. He played at two levels last year and and had to recover from a broken jaw near the end of the season. He is playing this year for the Class A High Desert Mavericks. Peterson is batting .304 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI.

Dustin Peterson, SS, Gilbert HS: Peterson was the 52nd pick overall by the San Diego Padres. Peterson was committed to ASU, but opted to sign. He is playing for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, a Class A affiliate of the Padres. Peterson is batting .261 with five homers and 46 RBI.

Riley Unroe, SS, Desert Ridge HS: Unroe was the 60th pick overall by the Tampa Bay Rays.Unroe was committed to USC, but opted to go pro. Unroe played in the Gulf Coast League for the Gulf Coast Rays. He batted..246 with a one homer, 15 RBI and seven steals in 46 games last summer.

Patrick Murphy, RHP, Hamilton HS: Murphy was the 83rd pick overall by the Toronto Blue Jays. Murphy missed his senior season due to elbow surgery and was committed to Oregon. He decided to sign. Murphy starts his pro career this summer in the Gulf Coast League with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays.

Stephen Tarpley, LHP, Gilbert HS: Tarpley was the 98th pick overal by the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched for Scottsdale Community College prior to the draft. He signed and played for the Gulf Coast League Orioles last summer. He posted a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings.

Cody Bellinger, 1B-LHP, Hamilton HS: Bellinger was the 124th pick overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bellinger had committed to play at Oregon, but signed quickly with the Dodgers. Bellinger played in the Arizona Summer League last year and batted .210 with one homer and 30 RBI in 47 games.

Jamie Westbrook, 2B, Basha HS: Westbrook was the 150th pick overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Westbrook signed and was impressive in rookie league play batting .292. Westbrook opened 2014 playing for the Class A South Bend Silver Hawks. He is hitting .262 with four homer and 25 RBI in 54 games.