Program record 12 Trojans taken in 2016 MLB draft

The baseball team had 12 players selected in the 2016 MLB First Year Player Draft, a new program record. Three Trojans were selected on the second day of the draft and nine more were drafted on the third day. Of the athletes taken, there were eight pitchers, three outfielders and one catcher.

The first Trojan to go was junior catcher Jeremy Martinez who was chosen in the fourth round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Martinez hit .376 on the season, the second-highest on the team, with 42 RBIs, six home runs and a team-high 18 doubles. The Fountain Valley native struck out only 12 times in 213 at-bats, a number that was eighth-best in the country and Martinez earned first team All-Pac-12 honors for the past season.

Senior right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske was selected by the New York Yankees in the sixth round of the draft. Kriske posted a 2.55 ERA over 35.1 innings and earned 42 strikeouts. The six saves Kriske accumulated over the season was good enough for a top-10 finish in the Pac-12 and the highest number on the team.

Following close behind was junior left-handed pitcher Bernardo Flores who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the seventh round. The reliever struck out 36 over 41.2 innings of work in 2016.

On the third day of the draft, USC continued to have great success.

Senior right-handed pitchers Kyle Davis and Brent Wheatley were selected in the 14th and 17th rounds by the Seattle Mariners and the Miami Marlins respectively. Davis posted a 4.70 ERA with 62 strikeouts over 82.1 innings of work. Wheatley threw 34.1 innings and earned a 6.03 ERA while collecting 37 strikeouts.

Senior outfielder and Pac-12 batting champion David Oppenheim was chosen next by the Anaheim Angels in the 18th round. Oppenheim earned first team All-Pac-12 honors while hitting .387 to lead both the team and the conference. He knocked in 25 runs to go along with four home runs. The Washington native also had a team-high .500 on-base percentage.

Two lefty pitchers were next for the Men of Troy, in senior Marc Huberman and junior Andrew Wright. The reliever Huberman had a 1.94 ERA with 45 strikeouts through 41.2 innings. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 18th round. Wright was drafted in the 21st round by the Cincinnati Reds despite pitching just 14.1 innings.

Joining Wright in the 21st round was pitcher Joe Navilhon. The right-hander led USC in innings pitched at 82.2 and had the lowest ERA of any starter at 3.38 while striking out 71 batters. He was taken by the Detroit Tigers.

The third and final Trojan taken in the 21st round was senior outfielder Timmy Robinson, who will be heading to the Bronx after being selected by the New York Yankees. Robinson led the team in RBIs with 46 in addition to eight home runs and 18 doubles while hitting .282.

Junior right-handed pitcher Jeff Paschke was selected in the 22nd round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a reliever, Paschke gathered four saves and 28 strikeouts with a 4.25 ERA through 29.2 innings pitched.

Joining Kriske and Robinson in pinstripes is junior outfielder Corey Dempster, who was taken in the 37th round. Dempster batted .290 and hit six home runs with 24 RBIs as the primary leadoff man for the Trojans.

With the 12 selections in the 2016 draft, USC now has 328 former players who have been drafted.