UCLA Baseball: Three Bruins Selected on Second Day of 2019 MLB Draft

Bruin juniors Ryan Kreidler, Jack Ralston, and Jeremy Ydens all heard their names called yesterday when they were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft.

Kreidler was chosen first when the Detroit Tigers picked him in the fourth round with the 112th pick of the draft. Ralston was picked in the seventh round with the 215th pick by the St. Louis Cardinals while the Washington Nationals took Ydens in the eighth round with the 243rd pick.

Kriedler appears to have impressed the Tigers because he was ranked 200th by MLB.com, yet Detroit selected him with the 112th pick of the draft. So, Kreidler moved up almost halfway up the board from where he was predicted to go. The slot value for that pick is $517.40K. So, he stands to receive a signing bonus close to that depending on what the Tigers actually offer him.

The slot value for the 215th pick is $204.80K. So, that’s what Ralston will likely receive, assuming he chooses to sign. Considering the year he had this year, he could certainly decide to roll the dice and return for next season to give teams a two-year track record of his performances, hoping that his draft stock would climb next year, but, given the amount of money he stands to earn, he will probably opt to sign with the Cardinals.

The slot value for the 243rd pick is $169.50K, which is about what Ydens will receive as a signing bonus, assuming he chooses to sign. In his case, he could return hoping to improve his draft stock next year by staying healthy and playing all season since he was limited to just 15 regular season games this season. He was actually selected last season in the 33rd round by the Diamondbacks with the 999th pick overall. One more full season of college ball should see his stock jump even more if he decides to stay. He was eligible to be drafted last season because eligible this year, despite the fact that he was just a sophomore, he turned 21 before going back to school last fall.

So far, two of the nine members of UCLA’s 2019 recruiting class have also been drafted. Corbin Carroll, an outfielder from Lakeside High School in Seattle, was drafted 16th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Evan Fitterer, a right-handed pitcher from Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo, was selected 141st in the fifth round by the Miami Marlins.

Will either of these players opt to come to Westwood instead of signing with their prospective teams? We should find out in the coming weeks. Last year, Bruins freshman Matt McLain opted to attend UCLA and not to sign with Arizona, despite being selected in the first round.


Go Bruins!!!