Nobody doubted Spencer Jones might play.
From highschool at La Costa Canyon the place skilled scouts flocked to his video games, to Vanderbilt the place he had an enormous 2022 season, the 6-foot-7 Jones has at all times stood out in a crowd.
Shortly after the July 17 MLB Draft, Jones cashed in.
A primary-round choose of the New York Yankees, the 25th participant taken, Jones signed for $2,880,800.
He was one among 14 gamers with San Diego connections taken within the draft. All 14 signed, together with three free brokers who signed after the draft.
Jones began his professional profession within the Florida Advanced League, was hitting .500 with a homer, double, 4 RBIs and two steals after three video games and jumped as much as Low-A Tampa of the Low-A Florida State League.
And he hasn’t slowed a lot, hitting .379 with a homer, double and three steals in 4 video games.
Following is a quick rundown on the opposite native gamers taken within the 2022 MLB Draft:
◆ Brycen Mautz, LHP, Westview HS/USD: Drafted within the second spherical by the Cardinals, he signed for $1.1 million. He has but to make his professional debut.
◆ Michael Knorr, RHP, Carlsbad HS/Coastal Carolina: Drafted within the third spherical by the Astros, he signed for $487,500. He has but to make his professional debut.
◆ Troy Melton, RHP, San Diego State: Drafted within the fourth spherical by the Tigers, he signed for $517,910. He has but to make his professional debut.
◆ Chase Meidroth, SS, USD: Drafted within the fourth spherical by the Crimson Sox, he signed for $272,500. Like Jones, Meidroth began within the Florida Advanced League, hitting .379 after three video games. That earned a promotion to Salem of the Low-A Carolina League the place he was hitting .344 with a pair of homers and 5 RBIs after 9 video games.
◆ Anthony Corridor, OF, Level Loma HS/Oregon: Drafted within the fourth spherical by the Yankees, he signed for $456,500 and only in the near past made his professional debut within the Florida Advanced League.
◆ Derek Diamond, RHP, Ramona HS/Ole Miss: Drafted within the sixth spherical by the Pirates, he signed for $311,600. He has thrown two scoreless innings within the Florida Advanced League.
◆ Calen Ricketts, C, USD: Drafted within the seventh spherical by the Phillies, he signed for $218,100. He has performed in 12 video games for Clearwater within the Low-A Florida State League, hitting .280 with a pair of homers and 6 RBIs.
◆ Murphy Stehly, OF, Santa Fe Christian/Texas: Drafted within the 10th spherical by the Nationals, he signed for $10,000. He lately made his professional debut with Fredericksburg within the Low-A Carolina League.
◆ Ian Churchill, LHP, USD: Drafted within the 10th spherical by the Blue Jays, he signed for $7,500. He has pitched three innings in three video games for Dunedin within the Low-A Florida State League and allowed one earned run.
◆ Kyle Nevin, OF, Poway HS/Baylor: Drafted within the 11th spherical by the Dodgers, he signed for $397,500. He performed two video games within the Arizona Advanced League and was jumped to Low-A Rancho Cucamonga within the California League the place he’s hitting .180 with six doubles, a triple and eight RBIs after 13 video games.
◆ Mason Pelio, RHP, Rancho Bernardo HS/Boston Faculty: Drafted within the 12th spherical by the Reds, he signed for $125,000. He has appeared in two video games within the Arizona Advanced League and has given up a run in two innings.
◆ Andrew Owen, RHP, Grossmont Faculty: Drafted within the 14th spherical by the Rangers, he signed for $125,000. He has but to make his professional debut.
◆ Zachary Veen, LHP, Level Loma Nazarene: Drafted within the 18th spherical by the Twins, he signed for $80,000. He has pitched in three video games within the Florida Advanced League, throwing three scoreless innings.
After the draft, outfielder Marc Filia (UC San Diego) signed as a free agent with the Guardians; third baseman Otto Kemp (Level Loma Nazarene) signed with the Phillies and right-hander Garrett Apker (Cal State San Marcos) signed with the Tigers.
Solely Kemp has performed thus far, showing in two video games within the Florida Advanced League.
