By Pete Cava
PBR Indiana Correspondent

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INDIANAPOLIS – “Whoever the Royals area scout is in the Midwest, he should retire,” quipped analyst Jonathan Mayo on the first night of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. 

“Some people go their whole career without getting a first-rounder at all,” added Dan O’Dowd, another commentator on the MLB Network telecast.  “He gets two.” 

With the 33^rd pick in the first round on June 8, Kansas City had just selected pitcher Nolan Watson of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis.  

Earlier, with the 21^st pick in the draft, the Royals had taken Cathedral High School hurler Ashe Russell. 

Mike Farrell, who recommended Russell and Watson to Kansas City, says he has no plans to retire.  But the Indianapolis-based scout admits he’s stunned to have two players taken in the first round.  

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said the Logansport native and former Indiana State star, who pitched in the Brewers organization from 1991 to 1996.  “Two high school players from the same city, taken in the same round?  The first round, and by the same team?   Houston, maybe.  Or L.A., when they were turning them out.  But this is unheard of.”   

Cathedral coach Rich Andriole has sent three players on to the professional ranks (utility player Jake Fox, pitchers Tommy Hunter and Dillon Peters).  But this year’s first-round results left him momentarily tongue-tied.  “I don’t know how to put the whole thing into words,” said Andriole, “It’s pretty special to have two guys from schools less than five miles apart get drafted in the same round, by the same team.”   

Richard Winzenread, Watson’s coach at LN, was more succinct.  “I don’t think this has ever happened before,” said Winzenread, a pitcher in the Orioles farm system from 1986 to 1987 after starring at Southport High School and Hanover College. 

Baseball America’s Jim Callis called the two first-round picks “a nice daily double for the Royals.” 

“I was shocked,” said Russell, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-hander, who traveled to MLB Network’s Studio 42 in Secaucus, New Jersey, for the first night of the three-day draft, which saw 1,215 players selected over 40 rounds.  “I didn’t even realize that Kansas City had two first-round picks until I heard (Watson’s) name get called.” 

Watson watched the telecast in his Eastside home, about two-and-a-half miles from where Russell lives.  “I was sitting in my living room with my family and friends,” he said.  “I’d heard from a couple of teams, so I had an idea I’d go in the first round.”   

Winzenread said Watson’s April 7 performance against North Central – when the 6-foot-2, 195-pound righty threw a 9-0 shutout with seven strikeouts – set the tone for the season.  “After that, every time he pitched there were 20 or more scouts in the stands.” 

Russell said he and Watson are friends, and have been talking every week for the past two months.  “He played on my team, EvoShield, this past summer and fall,” said Russell.  “And then in August, he was on my Area Code team out in California.”  

The two Indianapolis natives could wind up as teammates again this summer, this time as members of the Royals’ Arizona League rookie club in the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear. 

Russell (Texas A&M) and Watson (Vanderbilt) had made college commitments, but are likely to sign with the Royals.  “I have a physical and an MRI scheduled for Tuesday (June 16) in Kansas City,” said Russell, who bears a resemblance to Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz.  “Assuming I pass both of those, I figure I’m good to go for professional baseball.” 

Watson also said he plans to ink a Royals pact.  

According to Dan O’Dowd, the first-round selections of Russell and Watson will have a big impact on baseball in Central Indiana.  “You’re going to see more kids now over the years get drafted in that area,” said the former Rockies general manager, “because now they have two young men they can look to and say, ‘I could do that, too!’” 

All told, 23 players with Hoosier ties were selected in this year’s draft.  Including Russell and Watson, big-league teams scooped up five Hoosier preps, along with 18 players from Indiana colleges. 

Indiana University led the way with six players drafted – pitchers Jake Kelzer (Cubs), Scott Effross (Cubs), Ryan Halstead (Giants), Christian Morris (Yankees), Luke Harrison (Cardinals) and catcher Brad Hartong (Twins).  The Hoosiers went 35-24 this season, reaching the NCAA tournament for a third consecutive year.  

Also selected was outfielder Alex Krupa of Iowa Western Community College (Reds), who had committed to play next year at IU.  

The Astros hope the third time’s a charm for Halstead, who was previously drafted by the Astros in 2010 and the Twins in 2013 but didn’t sign.  Krupa was picked by the Reds for a second time (Cincinnati had drafted him out of high school in 2013).  A year ago, the Yankees drafted Kelzer while the Braves took Liberty University pitcher Ashton Perritt.  Both opted to return to college for their senior seasons.  

St. Joseph’s College had two players selected – pitchers Brian Bayliss (Royals) and Keegan Long (Diamondbacks).  “We’re great friends,” said Bayliss, Long’s roommate at St. Joe’s.  “I’m so happy me and him could go in the same draft in the same year.”

Indiana State left-hander Jeff Degano, who went to the Yankees in the second round, missed most of 2013 and all of 2014 due to Tommy John surgery.   The 6-4, 200-pound Canadian from the Vancouver area bounced back this season with an 8-3, 2.36 slate for the Sycamores.

Five of the college players drafted are Indiana high school products:  Kelzer (Bloomington South), Krupa (Greenwood), Louisville southpaw Nolan Rogers (New Albany HS;  selected by the Yankees), and a trio of right-handers – Liberty’s Ashton Perritt (Whiteland HS;  Rangers), Travis Herrin of Wabash Valley (Lebanon HS;  Angels), and Valparaiso’s Drew Hasler (Mishawaka Marian HS;  White Sox).   

Like Russell and Watson, the three other Indiana preps taken in the draft had signed earlier with top-tier college programs.  Right-handed pitcher Cody Mobley (Mount Vernon HS), the Mariners’ eighth round selection, had committed to Evansville;  catcher Jesse Wilkening (Hanover Central HS;  Diamondbacks) had signed with Nebraska;  and Bryan Hoeing (Batesville;  D-backs) was earmarked for Louisville.

Hoeing was considered a sure bet to go high in this year’s draft, but injuries have hampered the 6-foot-6 right-hander, who didn’t pitch this year.  Hoeing had an ACL operation last December after a basketball injury and will undergo Tommy John surgery next Tuesday (June 16) in Cincinnati. 

Hoeing’s cousin is Twins prospect Alex Meyer (Greensburg HS;  U. of Kentucky), a right-hander with the Rochester Redwings of the AAA International League.  Bryan’s late father and Alex’s mother were brother and sister. 

Like Hoeing, Evansville outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski, selected by the Mets, has baseball in his blood.  Kevin’s father Randy was an infielder in the Padres chain from 1981 to 1983.  Kaczmarski, a 24-year-old redshirt senior (he sat out his freshman year with a broken foot), batted .465 this season for the Purple Aces.   

And Notre Dame outfielder Conor Biggio is the son of second baseman-turned-catcher-turned outfielder Craig Biggio, whose 20-year career with the Astros led to a plaque in Cooperstown, New York.  The elder Biggio is part of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015.  Conor, born and raised in Houston, batted .263 in 26 games this season for the Fighting Irish.

The remaining players with Indiana ties selected in the draft are Jake Lanning (Holy Cross College, Notre Dame;  Braves) and Josh Degraaf (Taylor U.;  Blue Jays). Lanning, a Wisconsin native who lives in Roscoe, Illinois, spent two years at Kankakee Community College.  Degraaf, who was born in Illinois, went 8-2, 1.80 for the Trojans.  

The complete list

Round:  1.  No.:  21.  Team:   Royals.  Player:  Ashe Russell. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Cathedral HS (Indianapolis).  Resides:  Indianapolis. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/195.  Born:  August 28, 1996, Indianapolis, Indiana.   

Full name:  Ashelee Brenton Russell. 

College Commitment:  Texas A&M.     

 

Round:  1.  No.:  33.  Team:   Royals.  Player:  Nolan Watson. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Lawrence North High School (Indianapolis).  Resides:  Indianapolis.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-2/195.  Born:  January 25, 1997, Indianapolis.   

Full name:  Nolan Michael Watson.

College Commitment:  Vanderbilt.     

 

Round:  2.  No.:  57.  Team:   Yankees.  Player:  Jeff Degano. 

Position:  LHP.  School:  Indiana State (Marshalltown Community College).  Resides:  Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.   

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/200.  Born:  October 30, 1992, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. 

Full name:  Jeffrey Degano. 

High School:  Fraser Heights Secondary School (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada).

 

Round:  8.  No.:  245.  Team:   Mariners.  Player:  Cody Mobley. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Mount Vernon.  Resides:  Mount Vernon, Indiana.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/185.  Born:  September 23, 1996, Evansville, Indiana.  

Full name:  Cody Lawrence Mobley. 

College Commitment:  University of Evansville.     

 

Round:  9.  No.:  269.  Team:   Mets.  Player:  Kevin Kaczmarski. 

Position:  OF.  School:  University of Evansville.  Resides:  Cary, Illinois.   

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-0/192.  Born:  December 31, 1991, Chicago.   

Full name:  Kevin James Kaczmarski. 

High School:  Prairie Ridge High School (Crystal Lake, Illinois).

 

Round:  11.  No.:  333.  Team:   Yankees.  Player:  Josh Rogers. 

Position:  LHP.  School:  University of Louisville.  Resides:  New Albany, Indiana.   

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/200.  Born:  July 10, 1994, New Albany, Indiana. 

Full name:  Joshua Cole Rogers. 

High School:  New Albany (Indiana) High School.     

 

Round:  14.  No.:  413.  Team:   Cubs.  Player:  Jake Kelzer. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana University.  Resides:  Bloomington, Indiana.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-8/230.  Born:  June 30, 1993, Bloomington, Indiana.     

Full name:  Jacob Thomas Kelzer.   

High School:  Bloomington (Indiana) South High School.

Previously drafted:  Yankees (22/862) 2014.

 

Round:  15.  No.:  443.  Team:   Cubs.  Player:  Scott Effross. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana University.  Resides:  Twinsburg, Ohio. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-1/195.  Born:  December 28, 1993, Mayfield Heights, Ohio. 

Full name:  Scott Benjamin-Morton Effross . 

High School:  Twinsburg (Ohio) High School.       

 

Round:  18.  No.:  549.  Team:   Royals.  Player:  Brian Bayliss. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  St. Joseph’s College.  Resides:  Clawson, Michigan.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-2/200.  Born:  August 4, 1994, Troy, Michigan.

Full name:  Brian Leslie Bayliss Jr.   

High School:  Bishop Foley High School (Madison Heights, Michigan.

 

Round:  18.  No.:  555.  Team:   Angels.  Player:  Travis Herrin. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Wabash Valley College.  Resides:  Lebanon, Indiana.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/210.  Born:  April 29, 1995. Indianapolis, Indiana.   

Full name:  Travis Gene Herrin.   

High School:  Lebanon (Indiana) High School.      

 

Round:  21.  No.:  636.  Team:   Giants.  Player:  Ryan Halstead. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana University.  Resides:  Rancho Cucamonga, California.   

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-5/225.  Born:  May 13, 1992, Rancho Cucamonga, California. 

Full name:  Ryan Edward Halstead. 

High School:  Los Osos (California) High School.

Previously drafted:  Astros (36/1,083) 2010;  Twins (26/770) 2013.     

 

Round:  24.  No.:  708.  Team:   Rangers.  Player:  Ashton Perritt.  

Position:  RHP.  School:  Liberty.  Resides:  Whiteland, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/195.  Born:  September 8, 1992, Indianapolis, Indiana.  

Full name:  Ashton Taylor Perritt. 

High School:  Whiteland (Indiana) Community High School.

Previously drafted:  Braves (17/523) 2014.

 

Round:  24.  No.:  720.  Team:   Braves.  Player:  Jake Lanning. 

Position:  3B.  School:  Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Indiana;  Kankakee Community College.  Resides:  Roscoe, Illinois.   

B/T:  B/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-1/205.  Born:  February 4, 1993, Beloit, Wisconsin. 

Full name:  Jacob Nathaniel Lanning.   

High School:  Hononegah High School (Rockton, Illinois).    

 

Round:  28.  No.:  826.  Team:   Diamondbacks.  Player:  Jesse Wilkening. 

Position:  C.  School:  Hanover Central High School (Cedar Lake, Indiana).  Resides:  Cedar Lake, Indiana.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  5-11/200.  Born:  August 29, 1996, Munster, Indiana.  

Full name:  Jesse Wicker Wilkening.   

College Commitment:  University of Nebraska.  

 

Round:  29.  No.:  856.  Team:   Diamondbacks.  Player:  Keegan Long. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  St. Joseph’s College.  Resides:  Edon, Ohio.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-2/190.  Born:  August 27, 1993, Bryan, Ohio. 

Full name:  Keegan Bryce Long.

High School:  Edon (Ohio) High School.     

 

Round:  29.  No.:  860.  Team:   Twins.  Player:  Brad Hartong. 

Position:  C.  School:  Indiana University;  Cypress College.  Resides:  Los Alamitos, California.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/215.  Born:  February 4, 1992, Long Beach, California. 

Full name:  Bradley William Hartong. 

High School:  Los Alamitos (California) High School.    

 

Round:  31.  No.:  932.  Team:   Blue Jays.  Player:  Josh Degraaf. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Taylor University.  Resides:  Morris, Illinois.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/195.  Born:  January 28, 1993, Joliet, Illinois.   

Full name:  Joshua David Degraaf.   

High School:  Morris (Illinois) Community High School.       

 

Round:  32.  No.:  946.  Team:   Diamondbacks.  Player:  Bryan Hoeing. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Batesville High School.  Resides:  Batesville, Indiana.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-6/210.  Born:  October 19, 1996, Batesville, Indiana. 

Full name:  Bryan Jerome Hoeing

College Commitment:  Louisville.

 

Round:  33.  No.:  993  Team:   Yankees.  Player:  Christian Morris. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana University.  Resides:  Williston, Florida.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/195.  Born:  January 23, 1994, Gainesville, Florida. 

Full name:  Christian Lee Morris. 

High School:  Williston (Florida) High School.     

 

Round:  34.  No.:  1,009.  Team:   Astros.  Player:  Conor Biggio. 

Position:  OF.  School:  University of Notre Dame.  Resides:  Houston, Texas.   

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  5-9/155.  Born:  January 7, 1993, Houston, Texas.

Full name:  Conor Joseph Biggio. 

High School:  St.Thomas High School (Houston, Texas).     

 

Round:  34.  No.:  1,012.  Team:   White Sox.  Player:  Drew Hasler. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Valparaiso University.  Resides:  South Bend, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-6/245.  Born:  August 14, 1993, Hickory, North Carolina.

Full name:  Andrew Edgar Hasler. 

High School:  Mishawaka (Indiana) Marian High School.     

 

Round:  35.  No.:  1,045.  Team:   Reds.  Player:  Alex Krupa. 

Position:  OF.  School:  Iowa Western Community College.  Resides:  Greenwood, Indiana.   

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  5-9/165.  Born:  December 17, 1994, Valparaiso, Indiana. 

Full name:  Alexander James Krupa. 

High School:  Greenwood (Indiana) Community High School.

College Commitment:  Indiana University. 

Previously drafted:  Reds (19/585) 2013.

 

 

Round:  35.  No.:  1,061.  Team:   Cardinals.  Player:  Luke Harrison. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana University.  Resides:  Glenview, Illinois.   

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/225.  Born:  February 25, 1993, Evanston, Illinois.  

Full name:  Luke Michael Harrison. 

High School:  Glenbrook South High School (Glenview, Illinois).