Ed Petruska-Pinal Central Sports

SIGNAL PEAK – Two Central Arizona College players and one former Vaquero were selected in this week's Major League Baseball draft.

Right-handed pitcher Tyler Woessner went to the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth round with the 192nd overall pick. The Tampa Bay Rays chose left-handed pitcher Drew Sommers in the 11th round with the 344th pick, and the St. Louis Cardinals selected right-handed pitcher DJ Carpenter in the 14th round with the 427th pick.

"I'm really happy for those guys," CAC coach Anthony Gilich said. "Everyone's dream is to play professional baseball, and we have some guys who get a chance to do it."

The 20-round draft, which began Sunday and ended Tuesday, was held in Los Angeles in conjunction with MLB's All-Star game festivities.

Woessner went 11-2 in 19 appearances (18 starts) with a 3.55 ERA in 2022 for the Vaqueros, who posted a 59-13 record in winning the NJCAA World Series for the second time in three years and the fourth time overall. Woessner (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) pitched 96 1/3 innings, striking out 122 and walking 34. He held opposing batters to a .247 average.

His approximate pick value is $259,500 should he elect to sign with the Brewers.

Sommers was Central's top reliever. In 23 appearances, he went 3-2 with four saves and a 2.04 ERA. Sommers (6-3, 250) limited opposing batters to a .154 average, striking out 92 of the 182 he faced and walking 21 in 53 innings.

Playing for Oregon State in 2022, Carpenter (6-8, 242) went 2-3 with one save and a 7.77 ERA in 23 appearances with the Beavers. He struck out 31 and walked eight in 24 1/3 innings.

Carpenter pitched at CAC for three seasons (2019-21).

Over the years, 168 players have been drafted directly out of CAC and many more former Vaqueros have been drafted after moving on to four-year schools. Central has served as a stepping-stone for 20 players who have reached the majors, including current big league pitchers Joel Kuhnel of the Cincinnati Reds and Jared Koenig of the Oakland A's.

Kuhnel is 1-1 in 24 relief appearances with a 6.41 ERA. The right-hander has struck out 28 and walked seven in 26 2/3 innings.

Koenig is 1-3 in five starts with a 6.39 ERA. The left-hander has struck out 13 and walked 13 in 25 1/3 innings.

Prior to the draft, Woessner had committed to continue his college career at Tennessee Wesleyan and Sommers at the University of Arizona.

CAC's other commits are: catcher/infielder Devon Dixon (New Mexico), infielder Chase Valentine (Tennessee), infielder Vinnie LaGatta (Regis), outfielder/infielder Kiko Romero (Arizona), infielder Ryan Ball (Texas Tech), infielder Tyler Griggs (Gonzaga), catcher Hayden Seldomridge (Central Arkansas), outfielder Jaylin Rae (Charleston Southern), left-handed pitcher Liam Evans (New Mexico), catcher Trey Newman (Arizona State), right-handed pitcher Davis Spencer (Utah Valley), right-handed pitcher Evan Harmon (Lipscomb), right-handed pitcher Tyson Heaton (Grand Canyon), right-handed pitcher Cody Brooks (Minot State), infielder Logan Valencia (Tennessee Wesleyan), right-handed pitcher Sam Rochard (Lipscomb) and right-handed pitcher Shane Spencer (Washington State). Outfielder Dusty Garcia has yet to commit.