After years of tireless work and practice, lifelong dreams became reality for four local baseball stars Friday during the second day of the MLB Draft.
The first to hear his name called was UNC junior right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen–the Tar Heels unquestioned ace since becoming the Friday starter at the beginning of 2015.
Bryse Wilson of Orange High School was chosen in the fourth round of the MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves–and now must decide whether to go pro, or attend UNC for at least the next three years. (Photo via Twitter/@BryseWilson)
He’ll be joining the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization after the team chose him with the final pick of the third round (106th overall).
Despite a fastball that typically tops out around 91 mph, Gallen used his pinpoint accuracy to help post a 2.73 ERA with 169 strikeouts across 174.2 innings over the last two seasons.
Orange High School’s Bryse Wilson–a 6-foot-1-inch, 224 pound righty–was selected shortly after by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round (109th overall).
Just last month, the UNC commit–who was named Big 8 Pitcher of the Year for his standout season–tossed a perfect game against Eastern Wayne in the first round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs.
Tyler Ramirez, who played center field last season for the Tar Heels, will join UNC’s previous center fielder–Skye Bolt–in the Oakland Athletics farm system after being taken in the seventh round (202nd overall).
Although scouts are wary of his 5-foot-9 frame, Ramirez has provided the Tar Heels a steadying force in the outfield throughout his career–moving over to center in 2016 after starting in right field the year before.
Tyler Ramirez made a number of spectacular plays for UNC throughout the year, his best in a Tar Heel uniform. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)
He has also been UNC’s most consistent hitter in recent years, hitting .299 for his career as a three-year starter. On top of that, Ramirez was at the top of the team leaderboards in home runs and slugging percentage in 2015 and 2016
Rounding out the day was UNC relief pitcher AJ Bogucki.
The Washington Nationals chose the 6-foot-3 Pennsylvania native in the eighth round (244th overall) after he posted a 2.86 ERA in 28 appearances out of the bullpen last year.
It was easily Bogucki’s most consistent collegiate season after spending each of his first two seasons alternating between mid-week starts and the occasional relief stint here and there.
Rounds 11-40 of the draft will take place on Saturday, with a few more draft-eligible Tar Heels still waiting patiently to find out what the future has in store for them.
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