Grand Junction’s Geoff Baldwin became the first Colorado prep player selected in this year’s MLB Draft when the first baseman was picked by the Kansas City Royals in the 10th round today.
Baldwin, at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, hit .595 his senior season for Grand Junction, with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs. He was named to The Denver Post All-Colorado team on Sunday.
In the 14th round, the Philadelphia Phillies took Rocky Mountain standout Jake Stewart, a 6-3, 195-pound, power-hitting outfielder. Stewart hit .544, with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs his senior year. Stewart was named The Denver Post player of the year.
Earlier in the 14th round, the Rockies picked former Sterling standout Jeff Squirer, a left fielder. He played for Mississippi Valley State last season.
The Atlanta Braves drafted Eaton catcher Bennett Pickar in the 15th round. Pickar, 6-2, 190 pounds, hit .603 with 33 RBIs to help lead the Reds to a Class 3A championship.
Also in the 15th round, Faith Christian’s Johnson Pierce, a 6-1 right-handed pitcher, was picked by Tampa Bay. And Casey Schmidt, a graduate of Arvada’s Ralston Valley, was taken by the New York Mets. The right-handed pitcher was a junior at San Diego last season.
In the 27th round, former Chatfield standout Tyler Sturdevant, a right-handed pitcher, was picked by the Cleveland Indians. He was a senior at New Mexico State last season.
Mountain Vista’s Eric Anderson, a 6-4 right-handed pitcher, went to the Houston Astros in the 28th round. He went 9-0 with a 1.81 ERA and threw 81 strikeouts his senior season.
