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Four Cal Bears selected in 2021 MLB Draft
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Four Cal Bears selected in 2021 MLB Draft

Cal Alum Marcus Semien got the first RBI of the MLB All-Star Game

Ruey Yen
Jul 17, 2021
2
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Four Cal Bears selected in 2021 MLB Draft
writeforcalifornia.com

The later than usual MLB Draft took place at the All-Star Weekend for the first time earlier this week from Denver.

With how teams really not able to afford to miss out on their draft picks in the first 10 or so rounds now, almost everyone taken in the first two days are almost certain to sign and turn pro. The most prominent Cal Baseball commit and all of the Cal Bears, including three juniors with an extra year of eligibility, were taken in the first two days of the draft.

On Day 1, Cal commit SS/P Carson Williams was taken in the first round by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Twitter avatar for @RaysBaseballTampa Bay Rays @RaysBaseball
With the 28th pick in the 2021 Draft, we’ve selected SS Carson Williams. #RaysUp
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July 12th 2021

90 Retweets593 Likes

As expected in my preview, RHP Grant Holman was the first Cal Bear player off the board. Holman, the former two-way player turned staff ace, was taken on Day 2 by the Oakland A’s in the back-end of the 6th round. The A’s had also taken former Cal ace Daulton Jefferies, who made his MLB debut in 2020, back in 2016.

Twitter avatar for @AthleticsOakland A's @Athletics
With pick No. 188, the Oakland A's select RHP Grant Holman. #MLBDraft | @grantholman27_
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July 12th 2021

50 Retweets234 Likes

The second Cal Bears off the board is fellow junior RHP Sean Sullivan, who was the first pick of the 8th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sullivan had been a starter for the Bears for the past two seasons after being the co-closer in his freshman year. The Pirates had taken former Cal pitcher Aaron Shortridge back in the 2018 draft.

Twitter avatar for @CalBaseballCal Baseball @CalBaseball
Sully is heading to the Steel City! The @Pirates have selected Sean Sullivan in the eighth round of the #MLBDraft!
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July 12th 2021

17 Retweets106 Likes

Later in the 8th round, Cal RHP Ian Villers, who had only worked out of the bullpen was taken by the San Francisco Giants.

Twitter avatar for @CalBaseballCal Baseball @CalBaseball
Staying in the Bay! 🌁 The @SFGiants have selected @IanVillers in the eighth round of the #MLBDraft!
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July 12th 2021

46 Retweets262 Likes

In the 10th round, the Washington Nationals again select 2B Darren Baker, who was coming off a pretty solid senior season. Baker was drafted in the 27th round by the Nationals out of high school, back when the Nats had his father Dusty as the manager.

Twitter avatar for @CalBaseballCal Baseball @CalBaseball
DB is off the board! ⭐️ The @Nationals have selected @DarrenBaker_2 in the 10th round of the #MLBDraft!
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July 12th 2021

56 Retweets384 Likes

Of course, this pick got a lot of national attention for Darren Baker’s misadventure as a bat boy during the 2002 World Series.

Twitter avatar for @TheAthleticThe Athletic @TheAthletic
Flashback to the 2002 World Series and this heads up play when Darren Baker — the Giants’ bat boy at the time — was scooped up at home plate. Baker was just selected in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals. 🎥 @MLBVault
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July 12th 2021

77 Retweets322 Likes

No other Cal Bears were drafted, but senior 3B Quentin Selma was quickly signed by the Los Angeles Angels after the draft. The Angels had spent all 20 picks on pitchers, so they really needed some position players to add to their system.

Twitter avatar for @CalBaseballCal Baseball @CalBaseball
Pro bound. 🙌 @quentinselma26 has agreed to a non-drafted free agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels!
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July 15th 2021

22 Retweets153 Likes

As for the MLB All-Star Game itself, Cal alum Marcus Semien was voted by the fans as the starting 2B for the American League. He drove in the first run of the game in the top of the first inning.

Twitter avatar for @BlueJaysToronto Blue Jays @BlueJays
Making his Marc' ⭐️ Semi drives in the #AllStarGame's FIRST run!
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July 14th 2021

97 Retweets1,004 Likes

After a slowish start, Marcus Semien’s decision to bet on himself by signing just a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays has really paid off. After a bad season in the significantly shortened 2020 campaign, Semien should be able to earn a big long-term contract this offseason.

Twitter avatar for @BlueJaysToronto Blue Jays @BlueJays
Players in AL HISTORY with 20+ HR, 10+ SB, 20+ 2B, and 60+ R through 80 games: 1) Lou Gehrig (1930, 1931) 2) Marcus Semien (2021)
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July 3rd 2021

321 Retweets2,954 Likes

Improving his future MLB Draft stock this past week was Cal rising junior OF Dylan Beavers with the USA National Team.

In the last game of the intrasquad series, Beavers had a big game, including his first home run.

Twitter avatar for @USABaseballCNTUSA Baseball CNT @USABaseballCNT
.@dylanbeavers11 saved his best performance for last. 2⃣-for-2⃣ 1⃣ home run 3⃣RBIs 3⃣ runs scored @CalBaseball | #ForGlory 🇺🇸
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July 16th 2021

7 Retweets31 Likes
Twitter avatar for @CalBaseballCal Baseball @CalBaseball
2-for-2. 3 runs. 3 RBI. 2 stolen bases. 1 home run. What a night for @dylanbeavers11 in the @USABaseballCNT’s Stripes victory.
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July 16th 2021

7 Retweets51 Likes

Coming off a very successful sophomore season (.303/.401/.630 slash line with a Pac-12 best 18 home runs), Beavers had already significantly raised his draft stock in 2021. Showing that he can hit with the wooden bat this past week in such a showcase situation that is the USA National Team camp should further improve his stock. Beavers will almost certainly be the first Cal Bear taken in the 2022 MLB Draft.

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