In a span of two picks, two more Colorado products were selected in the 2014 MLB Draft on Friday. As the day rolled on, the local draftees added up.
Evergreen’s Brock Burke became the first local high school senior to be selected this year when he was taken by Tampa Bay Rays in the third round, No. 96 overall. Then, two picks later, 2011 Golden graduate John Richy went to the Los Angeles Dodgers at No. 98 overall out of UNLV.

Regis Jesuit’s Max George was picked by the Rockies in the sixth round Friday. (Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)
Regis Jesuit shortstop Max George was the Rockies’ sixth-round pick, No. 173 overall.
And in the seventh round, 2013 Fountain-Fort Carson graduate Nick Green was picked by the Texas Rangers out of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa. He was the No. 216 overall pick.
Through two days, Colorado now has five total selections in this draft. Thursday, 2011 Thomas Jefferson grad Kyle Freeland went to the Rockies in the first round at No. 8 overall.
Burke, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound left-handed pitcher who graduated this spring, was 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA for the Class 4A Cougars. He struck out 79 in 40 innings pitched, against 29 walks.
“It’s really awesome thinking I’m the top prospect in Colorado,” Burke told 9News on Friday. “For the Rays to think that highly of me is awesome.”
Burke, an Oregon recruit, allowed just six earned runs and 11 hits in his eight outings — which included a no-hitter against Westminster on March 19 in which he struck out 15.
Burke is only the second Evergreen alum to be taken in the draft, according to baseball-reference.com. Kevin Kouzmanoff went in the sixth round in 2003 out of UNLV, and has since played for the Padres, A’s, Rockies and Rangers.
Richy just completed his junior season at UNLV. A 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, he was 11-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 121 innings over 16 starts. He struck out 113 against 24 walks.
At Golden, Richy lettered in golf, as well. He is the sixth player from Golden to be drafted.
George, the state’s Gatorade player of the year, is the 12th Regis Jesuit product to be drafted, and sixth since 2011.
A 5-foot-9, 180-pound shortstop, George hit .458 with three home runs and 24 RBIs this season. He is an Oregon State recruit.
Green, a right-handed pitcher, just completed his freshman season at Indian Hills CC, and was 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 36 1/3 innings. That includes a no-hitter against Marshalltown (Iowa) CC on May 4.
Green is listed at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, and was taken by the Yankees in the 35th round of last season’s draft but opted not to sign. He is Fountain-Fort Carson’s second draftee after Chase Headley, now of the Padres. Headley was a second-round pick out of Tennessee in 2005.
The draft’s first, second and compensation rounds were Thursday. Rounds 3-10 are Friday, with rounds 11-40 on Saturday.
Colorado products taken in 2014 MLB Draft
Alumni | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Overall | Name | Position | High School | College |
1 | 8 | Kyle Freeland | LHP | Thomas Jefferson (2011) | Evansville |
3 | 98 | John Richy | RHP | Golden (2011) | UNLV |
6 | 216 | Nick Green | RHP | Fountain-Fort Carson (2013) | Indian Hills (Iowa) CC |
2014 graduates | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Overall | Name | Position | High School | Commit |
3 | 96 | Brock Burke | LHP | Evergreen | Oregon |
6 | 173 | Max George | SS | Regis Jesuit | Oregon State |