Rockies choose Memphis’ Moll

Three Rebels taken in second day of MLB draft

The second day of the Major League Baseball amateur draft featured rounds 3-10, and fans of college programs around the area had plenty of reasons to be happy.

University of Memphis junior left-handed starting pitcher Sam Moll was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the third round with the 77th overall pick. Moll is the third-highest draft pick in program history.

At 5-10, 185 pounds, Moll often throws in the mid90s with his fastball. And though he was a starter for Memphis, he projects as a possible short reliever in the pros.

A native of Lakeland, Tenn., he was 9-3 with a 2.30 earned-run average in 2013. He struck out 106 batters to rank sixth in program history for a season.

Moll was a first-team All- Conference USA selection and held opponents to a .196 average.

Picks from other local schools were as follows:

Vanderbilt had four players selected, including left-hander Kevin Ziomek, who was picked 58th overall in the third round by the Detroit Tigers.

Ole Miss catcher Stuart Turner went with the very next pick to the Min- nesota Twins. Considered by many to be the best catcher in the SEC after only one season, Turner led the Rebels with a . 374 batting average, 51 RBIs and 44 runs scored. He was a finalist for the 2013 Johnny Bench Award for the top collegiate catcher.

Rebels right-hander Mike Mayers also went in the third round to the St. Louis Cardinals, and righthander Bobby Wahl was taken in the fifth round with the 161st overall pick by the Oakland Athletics.

Arkansas pitcher Barrett Astin was chosen in the third round with the 90th pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Shortstop Adam Frazier of Mississippi State was chosen 179th overall in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kendall Graveman was taken 235th by the Toronto Blue Jays, and left-hander Chad Girodo was chosen 265th in the ninth round by the Blue Jays.

Right-hander Zachary Godley of Tennessee was picked with the 288th pick, in the 10th round, by the Chicago Cubs.

Arkansas State righthander Daniel Wright, a native of Bartlett, was chosen 315th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 10th and final round of the day. He led the Red Wolves in wins (six) strikeouts (96) and ERA (3.18).

Rounds 11- 40 will be held Saturday. The Houston Astros selected Stanford pitcher Mark Appel with the No. 1 overall pick Thursday night.