Cardinals draft Gil, add versatility to system

June 6th, 2018

ST. LOUIS -- Day 2 of the 2018 MLB Draft is complete, and the Cardinals showed they want versatility in their system. The Cards drafted four infielders, three pitchers, two outfielders and a catcher on Tuesday. Power was still an obvious priority for St. Louis, as it drafted several sluggers, but proven collegiate pitchers were also a major focus.
"The day started off with a couple of picks that we were just really pleased with, and then you go all the way to the ninth and 10th [rounds] and we found some fits that we really are intrigued about what their professional development entails," Cardinals scouting director Randy Flores said. "And so I think it was a good day."
The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 11 a.m. CT.
After starting Day 2 by drafting a high school player, the Cards picked eight players that stayed at the collegiate level for at least three years. Here's a recap of the Cardinals' action on Day 2:

Round 3: SS Mateo Gil, Keller Timber Creek (Texas) HS
The Cardinals selected TCU commit Mateo Gil with the No. 95 pick. Gil is the son of former Angels and Rangers infielder Benji Gil, who won the World Series with the Halos in 2002.
"Him having that background and familiarity with the Minor League process, and the obstacles and roadblocks that are all normal as a part of being a 19-year-old professional ball player every day, I think he's positioned well for that," Flores said.
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Gil batted .380/.475/.758 with seven home runs, 44 RBIs and 22 stolen bases during his senior season. He also was the team's closer, throwing a low-to-mid-90s fastball. He was named to the Rawlings Perfect Game All-American third team.
"We really do like his ability up the middle of the diamond," Flores said. "Sometimes we say on college picks that in the professional setting, maybe their best days are ahead of them, that they still have more development. And with Mateo, we really saw that progress from his summer, his fall, his early spring and even his spring, he just got better and better and better as he gained momentum."
Round 4: LHP Steven Gingery, Texas Tech
Gingery was selected with the No. 123 overall pick. The lefty pitched only 2 1/3 innings for the Red Raiders this season because he tore his ulnar collateral ligament. Gingery underwent Tommy John surgery in February.
In 2017, Gingery went 10-1 in 15 starts with a 1.58 ERA and 107 strikeouts. He was the 2017 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and was selected as a unanimous first-team All-American.
"If you adhere to the model that pitchers get hurt, and they get hurt big once, then I guess you can buy into that," Flores said. "That being said, the last thing I want to do is start making that a pattern of our Draft behavior. But for the opportunity provided this year, we were willing to take that risk."
Round 5: 2B Nick Dunn, Maryland
Dunn was recently named a second-team All-American after a stellar junior season at Maryland. The Cardinals drafted four infielders in the first five rounds, and Dunn adds to that power at the plate.
Dunn batted .330 in 212 at-bats with 10 homers and 39 RBIs for the Terrapins. He was a first-team All-Big 10 selection.
Round 6: RHP Edgar Gonzalez, Fresno State
Gonzalez was a first-team All-Mountain West as a junior this season. He pitched 95 innings, posting a 2.84 ERA with 110 strikeouts.
Gonzalez recorded three double-digit strikeout games this season, including a career-high 17 vs. Houston Baptist on Feb. 24, four shy of the school record set by former Cardinals pitcher Jeff Weaver.
Round 7: OF Brendan Donovan, University of South Alabama
Donovan was the first outfielder selected by the Cardinals in the Draft. Donovan batted .302 in 202 at-bats with 51 runs, five home runs, 17 doubles and 55 RBIs this season.
On the South Alabama athletics website, Donovan listed Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter as his favorite player.
Donavan hit a walk-off single in the Sun Belt Conference championship to give South Alabama its first conference title since 2005, when former Cardinals player played there.
Round 8: LF Lars Nootbaar, USC
Nootbar batted .249 in 54 games this year for the Trojans, collecting six home runs and 24 RBIs.
Nootbaar is a versatile player on defense. He's most recently played in left and right field, but he often played around the infield during his freshman year at USC.
The Orioles drafted Nootbaar's brother, Nigel, in the 12th round in 2014, and he played two years in their Minor League system.
Round 9: C Matthew Duce, Dallas Baptist
Duce batted .234 with 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 51 RBIs in 231 at-bats during his senior season this year.
"When you have a chance to add catching depth, and you have a chance to add power, it's something you do anywhere," Flores said.
Duce was previously drafted by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2017 Draft.
Round 10: 1B Kevin Woodall Jr., Coastal Carolina
Woodall batted .298 in 245 at-bats in 62 games this season. He recorded 71 runs and 19 home runs for the Chanticleers.
Woodall played 12 of 14 games in Coastal Carolina's national-championship run in the 2016 College World Series, collecting four hits.