Major League Baseball today completed its 2018 Draft, with a total of 1,214 players being chosen in the 40 rounds, two Compensation rounds and two Competitive Balance rounds. The Draft resumed in the 11th round via conference call this afternoon after Tuesday's completion of rounds three through 10.
Pitchers were the most frequently chosen players, with 653 being selected (500 RHP, 153 LHP). The rest of the 2018 pool was comprised of 230 infielders (including 100 shortstops, 50 third basemen, 40 second basemen, 31 first basemen and nine utility infielders), 215 outfielders, 115 catchers and one utility player.
The University of Kentucky had 13 players selected, marking the most in the Draft. Three schools - Texas Tech University, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Wichita State University - each had 11 players drafted. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina at Columbia each had 10 players selected, while the University of Oklahoma had nine players taken. Five schools produced eight different players, including Tennessee Tech University, the University of Arizona, the University of Louisville, the University of Mississippi and Vanderbilt University.
Players were selected from 47 states, with Alaska, Maine and Montana being the states to not produce a draft selection. The states that had the most players selected were California (187), Florida (158), Texas (114), Georgia (65), North Carolina (49), Illinois (39), Ohio (34), Arizona (31) and Pennsylvania (31). Fifty-one draft-eligible foreign-born players were selected in the 40 rounds, including 30 players from Puerto Rico; 18 players from Canada; and one player each from the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands.
The Detroit Tigers selected Auburn University right-handed pitcher Casey Mize with the first overall pick in the Draft. Mize was the first pitcher taken with the first overall selection since Houston selected Brady Aiken in 2014, and he was the first right-handed pitcher since the Astros drafted Mark Appel in 2013.
Six players who were in attendance at Studio 42 were selected on the opening night, including five in the first round. The players in attendance were Wichita State University third baseman Alec Bohm, who was selected third overall by the Philadelphia Phillies; Eau Gallie H.S. (FL) right-handed pitcher Carter Stewart, who was drafted eighth overall by the Atlanta Braves; University of South Alabama outfielder Travis Swaggerty, who was taken 10th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates; Cartersville H.S. (GA) catcher Anthony Seigler, who was selected 23rd overall by the New York Yankees; American Heritage School (FL) third baseman Triston Casas, who was drafted 26th overall by the Boston Red Sox; and North Broward Prep H.S. (FL) shortstop Xavier Edwards, who was taken 38th overall by the San Diego Padres.
Six of the 30 first round selections (20.0%), and 18 of the 78 picks on the opening night of the Draft (23.1%), come from diverse backgrounds, including first round selections Nick Madrigal (4th overall, CWS); Kyler Murray (9th overall, OAK), who plays quarterback at the University of Oklahoma; Grayson Rodriguez (11th overall, BAL); Jordyn Adams (17th overall, LAA); Seigler (23rd overall, NYY); and Noah Naylor (29th overall, CLE). Additionally, 13 of the first 78 picks (16.7%) were African-American/Black/African-Canadian.
Among the alumni of MLB's Youth Academy network drafted were Solomon Bates (8th round, SF) out of the Compton Academy, Drevian Nelson (14th round, LAA) out of the Houston Astros Academy and Julian Boyd (26th round, CHI) out of the Compton Academy.
Among the 15 alumni of MLB's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program selected in the Draft were Alek Thomas (Chicago White Sox RBI, 2nd round, ARI); Micah Bello (Nobu Yamauchi, Hilo, Hawaii RBI, CB-B Round, MIL); Taj Bradley (Atlanta Metro RBI, 5th round, TB); Lawrence Butler (Atlanta Metro RBI, 6th round, OAK); Jawuan Harris (Miami Marlins RBI, 7th round, SD); Francisco Justo (Paterson, NJ, RBI, 12th round, STL); Nelson (Houston Astros RBI, 14th round, LAA); Bryan Lavastida (Miami Marlins RBI, 15th round, CLE); David Miranda (Angels RBI, 25th round, NYY); Marshawn Taylor (Chicago White Sox RBI, 28th round, ARI); Billy Wilson (Arizona RBI, 28th round, CLE); Bryce Bush (Detroit RBI, 33rd round, CWS); and Kyle Salley (Chicago White Sox RBI, 40th round, CWS).  Additionally, Leury Tejada from DREAM RBI (formerly known as Harlem RBI), who was selected in the 10th round by the Texas Rangers, and Isaiah Campbell from KCK (Kansas City, Kansas) RBI, who was selected in the 24th round by the Los Angeles Angels, became the first players out of their respective RBI programs to be drafted. Campbell (2014), Lavastida (2015), Bradley (2016), Butler (2016 & 2017) and Justo (2017) all played in an RBI World Series championship tournament.
In addition, the following 25 drafted players participated in either an Elite Development Invitational (EDI), a Breakthrough Series (BTS) or the "DREAM SERIES," all joint initiatives of MLB and USA Baseball: Simeon Woods-Richardson (2017-2018 DREAM SERIES, 2nd round, NYM); Osiris Johnson (2016-2017 BTS & EDI, 2nd round, MIA); Thomas (2016 BTS); Bradley (2016-2017 BTS & EDI, 2017-2018 DREAM SERIES, 5th round, TB); Butler (2016-2017 BTS & EDI, 6th, OAK); Cabera Weaver (2016-2017 BTS, 2016 EDI, 7th round, CWS); Dominic Pipkin (2016 BTS & 2017 EDI, 9th round, PHI); Regi Grace (2017 BTS & EDI, 2018 DREAM SERIES, 10th round, MIN); Destin Dotson (2018 DREAM SERIES, 12th round, TEX); Nelson (2017 BTS, 14th round, LAA); Andrew Cabezas (2014 BTS, 18th round, MIN); Kelvin Smith (2016 BTS, 2016-2017 EDI, 20th round, DET); Brandon Howlett (2016 BTS, 21st round, BOS); Pablo Garabitos (2016-2017 BTS, 2017 EDI, 2018 DREAM SERIES, 25th round, MIL); Boyd (2016-2017 BTS, 26th round, CHI); William Duncan (2015 EDI, 2017 DREAM SERIES, 29th round, SD); Bush (2017 BTS & EDI, 33rd round, CWS); Paul McIntosh (2015-2016 BTS, 2017 DREAM SERIES, 34th round, LAA); Elijah Pleasants (2016 BTS, 2015 & 2017 EDI, 2017-2018 DREAM SERIES, 36th round, KC); Jose Gutierrez (2017 BTS, 2018 DREAM SERIES, 36th round, CLE); Jaden Hill (2017 BTS, 38th round, STL); Kumar Rocker (2018 DREAM SERIES, 38th round, COL); Kaleb Hill (2017 BTS, 39th round, CLE); Salley (2016 BTS & EDI, 2017 DREAM SERIES, 40th round, CWS); and Lyndon Weaver (2017 BTS, 40th round, OAK).
One hundred and forty-five (145) players who participated in 2017-2018 events for the joint Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) program by MLB and USA Baseball were selected during the 2018 Draft (full list accompanies this press release). The 145 players represent an approximate 117% increase over PDP alumni selected in the 2017 Draft. The structure of the voluntary program provides a streamlined, official identification and assessment pathway service for elite high school age athletes to maximize their exposure to MLB Clubs and their scouts by conducting regionalized, professional workouts where they can be evaluated. At each PDP event, players undergo a unique athletic assessment consisting of sport performance vision screening, swing analysis and precise physical testing.
Kelenic and Gorman also join fellow 2017 All-Star High School Home Run Derby alumni Casas (26th overall, BOS) and Naylor (29th overall, CLE) as first round selections in the 2018 Draft. Elijah Cabell (14th round, MIL) is another alumni of last year's event who was selected.
The Padres selected Ryan Weathers, the son of former Major League pitcher David Weathers, with the seventh overall selection. Opening night selections also included Naylor (29th overall, CLE), the brother of Padres Minor League first baseman Josh Naylor; Parker Meadows (44th overall, DET), the brother of Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows; Griffin Conine (52nd overall, TOR), the son of former All-Star Jeff Conine; and Osiris Johnson (53rd overall, MIA), the cousin of former All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
Other notable selections included:
· Brice Turang (21st overall, MIL), son of former Major Leaguer Brian Turang;
· Jonathan Bowlan (2nd round, KC), son of former Minor Leaguer Mark Bowlan;
· Alek Thomas (2nd round, ARI), son of Allen Thomas, the Chicago White Sox Director of Strength and Conditioning;
· Kody Clemens (3rd round, DET), son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens;
· Tristan Pompey (3rd round, MIA), brother of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Dalton Pompey;
· Mateo Gil (3rd round, STL), son of former Major Leaguer Benji Gil;
· Richard Palacios Jr. (3rd round, CLE), son of former Minor Leaguer Richard Palacios, nephew of former Major Leaguer Rey Palacios and brother of Blue Jays Minor Leaguer Josh Palacios;
· Aaron Ashby (4th round, MIL), nephew of former All-Star pitcher Andy Ashby;
· Kohl Franklin (6th round, CHI), nephew of former All-Star pitcher Ryan Franklin;
· J.J. Montgomery (7th round, BAL), brother of former Minor Leaguer Christian Montgomery;
· A.J. Graffanino (8th round, ATL), son of former Major Leaguer Tony Graffanino;
· Blaze Alexander (11th round, ARI), son of former Minor Leaguer Chuck Alexander;
· Stephen Kolek (11th round, LAD), brother of Miami Marlins Minor Leaguer Tyler Kolek;
· Nolan Kingham (12th round, ATL), brother of Pirates pitcher Nick Kingham;
· Cameron Sanders (12th round, CHI), son of former Major Leaguer Scott Sanders;
· Justin Lewis (12th round, ARI), cousin of NFL star Richard Sherman and cousin of former NBA player Chuck Hayes;
· George Bell-Santana (13th round, SF), son of 1987 AL Most Valuable Player George Bell;
· Xavier Valentin (19th round, TEX), son of former Major Leaguer Jose Valentin;
· Parker Kelly (20th round, STL), brother of St. Louis Cardinals Minor Leaguer Carson Kelly;
· Ryan Tapani (21st round, WSH), son of former Major Leaguer Kevin Tapani;
· Ben Strahm (23rd round, SF), brother of Padres pitcher Matt Strahm;
· Logan Browning (24th round, BOS), son of former Major Leaguer Tom Browning;
· Cobi Johnson (30th round, TOR), son of former Major Leaguer and current Blue Jays bullpen coach Dane Johnson;
· Cody Staab (30th round, SEA), son of White Sox scout Keith Staab;
· Rigo Beltrán (31st round, SEA), son of former Major Leaguer and current Indians Minor League pitching coach Rigo Beltrán;
· Daniel Wasinger (31st round, ARI), son of Red Sox Special Assistant, Player Personnel Mark Wasinger;
· Edward Guzman (32nd round, CIN), son of former Major Leaguer Edwards Guzman;
· Zach Scott (32nd round, SEA), son of Miami Marlins Director, Player Development Dick Scott;
· Mike Piccolo (33rd round, NYM), son of Royals Assistant General Manager J.J. Piccolo;
· J.C. Correa (33rd round, HOU), brother of Astros All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa;
· Alec Valenzuela (34th round, CWS), son of White Sox West Coast Crosschecker Derek Valenzuela;
· George Arias Jr. (34th round, SD), son of former Major Leaguer George Arias;
· Benito Santiago (34th round, STL), son of former All-Star and 1987 NL Rookie of the Year Benito Santiago;
· Wacy Crenshaw (34th round, ARI), son of Diamondbacks Director of Sports Medicine and Performance Ken Crenshaw;
· Tyler Baca (34th round, WSH), son of Nationals Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Baca;
· Logan Brown (35th round, ATL), son of former Major League catcher Kevin Brown;
· A.J. Bregman (35th round, HOU), brother of Astros third baseman Alex Bregman;
· Cannon King (37th round, CWS), son of longtime television personality Larry King;
· Antonio Cruz (37th round, HOU), son of former Major Leaguer Jose Cruz Jr. and grandson of former All-Star Jose Cruz;
· Adam Jacques (38th round, CIN), son of Reds Northwest Area Scout Rick Jacques;
· Nick Zona (38th round, NYM), son of Nationals Special Assistant to the General Manager Jeff Zona;
· Austin Piscotty (38th round, OAK), brother of Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty;
· Jack Montgomery (38th round, SEA), son of former Major Leaguer and current Brewers Vice President of Scouting Ray Montgomery;
· Bobby Milacki (38th round, WSH), son of former Major Leaguer Bob Milacki;
· Cole Beverlin (39th round, TOR), son of former Major Leaguer and current Blue Jays Area Scout Jason Beverlin;
· Jacob Maton (39th round, SEA), brother of Padres pitcher Phil Maton and Phillies Minor Leaguer Nick Maton;
· Adam Hackenberg (39th round, KC), brother of NFL quarterback Christian Hackenberg;
· Abdiel Layer (40th round, SF), brother of Giants Minor Leaguer Jose Layer; and
· Michael Menhart (40th round, WSH), son of former Major Leaguer and current Nationals Pitching Coordinator Paul Menhart