The word was that the Cubs coveted A.J. Pollock, but the Notre Dame outfielder was long gone before the North Siders had a chance to draft him.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Pollock 17th overall in the first round of the draft Tuesday night.”It always has been a dream for me to play professional ball, and it is becoming a reality,” the 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pounder said. “I’m overjoyed right now, also a little overwhelmed, but very happy.”
Coincidentally, one of the Diamondbacks’ Class A teams is in South Bend, Ind.
“There was no question that I would return to Notre Dame in the fall to finish school, and now I might be able to play in South Bend for the Silver Hawks as well,” said Pollock, 21. “I really can’t imagine it working out any better.”
Pollock started all 59 games for the Irish this season, hitting .365 to become the second player in Notre Dame history to lead the team in batting for three consecutive years.
His 34 extra-base hits — 19 doubles, five triples and 10 home runs — helped him compile a formidable .610 slugging percentage. He struck out just 24 times in 284 plate appearances and had a .443 on-base percentage.
The Cubs believed Pollock has the speed, the range and the arm to stay in center field. Other teams projected him as a corner outfielder. Pollock is more of a gap hitter right now, but some scouts believe his power will come as he fills out.
First off the board from Illinois colleges was Eastern Illinois left-hander Tyler Kehrer, who went to the Los Angeles Angels 48th overall in the first supplemental round.
The 6-3, 210-pounder led the Ohio Valley Conference with his .213 opponents’ batting average and his 90 strikeouts — second-best in EIU history.
“We knew T.K. had a chance to be a special player when we saw him at an American Legion game in high school,” Eastern coach Jim Schmitz said.
Kehrer averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings, 15th best in the nation.
“His development has been fun to watch both in terms of perfecting his pitching and maturing as a person,” Schmitz said. “If he makes as much progress the next three years as he has the last three years, he will make it to the major leagues.”
The first Illinois high schooler drafted was right-hander Tanner Bushue of tiny Farina South Central near Effingham. He went to Houston with the 19th pick of the second round.
