The 2016 MLB Draft order is set following Ian Desmond signing with the Texas Rangers to start the week. Now with the Colorado Rockies' draft selections officially locked in, let's turn to the second weekend of college baseball.
A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida
The Gators remain the No. 1 team in the nation after taking two of three games from the Miami Hurricanes, but that loss came in Puk's start on Saturday. Puk's time on the mound started off alright with two swinging strikes out and a ground out in the first inning, but two singles and an RBI double to open the second inning put his team down early. He failed to rebound in the third inning by loading the bases on a leadoff double, committing a fielding error on a sac bunt, and hitting the third batter to appear in the inning. A single deposited in right field plated two runs. He struck out two batters, threw a wild pitch, and plunked another batter before being pulled from the game.
Puk's final line: 2 ⅔ IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 62 P
Puk's season: 2 GS, 0-1 W-L, 6 ⅔ IP, 2.70 ERA, 9 H 11 K, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 1 WP
Related: Junior RHP Logan Shore threw a masterful nine-inning shutout against the Hurricanes to open the series on Friday. He allowed just four hits and struck out eight on 95 pitches.
Alec Hansen, RHP, Oklahoma
Hansen drew the Sunday start to close out a series against Sam Houston State, but failed to improve upon last week's poor start to the season. He had little trouble over the first three innings, which included picking up three swinging strikeouts in the second, but fell apart in the fourth. He surrendered a leadoff home run on a 3-1 pitch and then worked deep into the count on the next two batters, giving them free passes. He picked up an error on a sac bunt, loading the bases and leaving the game. Reliever Keaton Hernandez limited the fallout from Hansen's wild inning with just a sac fly to the first batter he faced. A strikeout and ground out ended the frame.
Hansen's immense potential continues to disappear behind an erratic outing. Will he start on the right path this weekend when the Sooners visit Los Angeles for the Dodger Stadium Classic? USC, UCLA, and Mississippi State are also participating.
Hansen's final line: 3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 K, 3 BB, 74 P
Hansen's season: 2 GS, 0-1 W-L, 4 IP, 9.00 ERA, 4 H, 6 K, 7 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP
Corey Ray, OF, Louisville
Ray continued his hot start even though his Cardinals dropped two of three on the road at Ole Miss. After picking up two hits (both doubles) over the first two contests, Ray started the rubber game of the series by landing an 0-2 pitch over the left field wall at Swayze Field. Two innings later, Ray singled up the inning but was picked off first.
Ray's weekend line: 4-for-13, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Ray's season: .536/.588/1.143, 15-for-28, 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 SB
Others of Note
Matt Krook, LHP, Oregon: The lefty allowed just one run on two hits over seven innings. He struck out eight but walked five against Illinois State. Check out this video of his start:
VIDEO | Matt Krook's solid home debut! Krook went 7 innings with 8 Ks, while allowing just 1 run on 2 hits #GoDucks https://t.co/luLS4jXHdo
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) February 27, 2016
Connor Jones, RHP, Virginia: Pitching five innings against East Carolina, Jones surrendered four runs over the first two frames. He walked two and struck out eight.