MLB Update: Jason Ogata Selected By Texas
2:20 p.m.
Jason Ogata became Oregon State’s seventh selection in the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft when he was taken in the 38th round (1,143rd) overall by the Texas Rangers. He is the second junior taken, following Mark Grbavac in the 32nd round.
“Getting drafted is a great feeling,” Ogata said. “Not many people get to say they’ve been drafted and now I have been twice (Ogata was drafted in the 50th round in 2005 by San Diego).”
Ogata played in 51 games for the Beavers in 2008, hitting .301 with four home runs and 39 RBI. He led the club with 18 multiple-hit games. Primarily the team’s designated hitter in 2008, he has spent two seasons with the Beavers after transferring from LSU. A Portland native, he has batted .298 with eight home runs, 25 doubles and 81 RBI in two seasons with the Beavers.
1:23 p.m.
Daniel Robertson proved his one season with the Beavers was productive as the outfielder was taken in the 33rd round (1,005th overall) by San Diego in the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
“I’m very excited,” Robertson said. “Right after I got picked, Mitch (Canham) actually called and said, ‘Welcome to the organization.’ San Diego is close to home and I’m really excited to get drafted by the Padres.”
Robertson, a La Puente, Calif., native, transferred to Oregon State prior to the 2008 season from Concordia. In his one and only season with OSU, Robertson batted .327, hit 12 doubles, one triple and two home runs and drove in 27 RBI. He made four assists in the outfield and was involved in three double plays.
He’s the second OSU player selected in the round, joining Lennerton, and the third in the last two – joining Grbavac, who went in the 32nd round to the New York Mets.
1:22 p.m.
Jordan Lennerton made it five players on the day for the Beavers as the senior first-baseman was taken in the 33rd round (1,003rd overall) by the Detroit Tigers in the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity to be in the Detroit system,” Lennerton said. “I’m excited. Hopefully, I’ll be able to play every day for them.”
Lennerton led Oregon State with six home runs as a senior, giving him 16 in two seasons with the Beavers. The first baseman played in 114 games with Oregon State after transferring to head coach Pat Casey’s program in 2007 from El Paso Community College. He batted .299 with 73 RBI in his tenure with the club.
1:11 p.m.
Mark Grbavac became Oregon State’s fourth player selected Friday and the first junior when he was taken by the New York Mets. The Portland native was selected in the 32nd round (974th overall).
“It’s pretty cool,” Grbavac said of the selection. “I didn’t really expect it. I had just stopped looking at the draft tracker. But I had a friend call me with the news.”
Grbavac, a right-handed reliever, tied for the team lead with four wins in 2008, compiling a 3.62 ERA in 22 appearances. He worked 27 1/3 innings for the Beavers, allowing 30 hits and 11 earned runs while striking out 27. In three seasons with Oregon State, Grbavac is 5-2 with a 3.21 ERA in 61 appearances, all of which have come in relief.
He is the second OSU reliever to be selected by the Mets in as many seasons. Eddie Kunz was selected in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by New York.
11:35 a.m.
Chris Hopkins became Oregon State’s third player chosen Friday in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He was taken in the 24th round (729th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays.
“It feels good to be drafted by Toronto,” Hopkins said. “The scout who drafted me told me he was going to fight for me and he got me so it feels real good. I think the Blue Jays are a great organization to get drafted to.”
Hopkins played two seasons for the Beavers after transferring from Sierra Junior College. In two seasons, he batted .272 with four home runs, 22 stolen bases and 50 runs batted in. Hopkins, from Oakland, Calif., batted .278 as a senior and drove in 23 with 10 doubles.
11:01 a.m.
Lonnie Lechelt was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 21st round (628th overall) in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player
Draft. He is Oregon State’s second selection Friday, joining Mike Stutes, who was selected in the 11th round by Philadelphia.
“I’m so excited,” Lechelt said. “I was watching online and saw my name come up with Florida selecting me and I was a little surprised because I hadn’t talked to them much. But I’m glad they did. I’m very happy and I’m excited to get out there and play some baseball.”
Lechelt concluded his four-year Oregon State career by batting .287 in 44 games in 2008. He hit five home runs, drove in 33 runs and accumulated four triples. Lechelt, from Kennewick, Wash., came to the OSU program in 2005 and proceeded to play in 133 games with nine home runs and 12 doubles. He went to Omaha three times with the Beavers, winning two national titles.
9:18 a.m.
Mike Stutes became the first Oregon State player to be selected in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft on Friday. Stutes was selected by Philadelphia in the 11th round (346th overall).
“The Phillies are a really good organization,” Stutes said. “I really look forward to getting on the field and playing for them.”
Stutes went 4-7 with a 5.32 ERA for the Beavers in 2008. He ended his career with 287 strikeouts, which places him second in Oregon State’s record books, along with 24 wins, which puts him in a tie for ninth.
Check back with to follow Oregon State’s draft day selections.
