Cardinal News Release: First Round Draft Results
ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 8, 2015 – The St. Louis Cardinals, armed with three selections during the first night of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, selected outfielder Nick Plummer out of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with the 23rd pick overall in the opening round.
Plummer, 18, stands at 5-11, 190 pounds and hails from Lathrup Village, Mich. He hit .520 for his high school team this spring with 68 runs scored, 23 RBI with 22 doubles and five triples. Plummer walked 32 times and struck out only 10 times, and collected 32 stolen bases during a season in which his team went 32-10. A varsity player all four seasons in high school, he was named All-League in 2012 and 2013 and All-Catholic and All-State Dream Team in 2014, helping his team to a runner-up finish in the State Championship in 2013. The Brother Rice Warriors season just ended Saturday with a loss in the Michigan Regional Semi-Finals, 2-1, as Plummer scored the lone run for his team.
“We’re very excited for the opportunity to draft Nick Plummer,” stated St. Louis Scouting Director, Chris Correa. “Plummer is a centerfielder with speed and a good chance to hit for average with ability to grow into some power, and we think he’ll be a great fit in our player development system.”
The Cardinals have selected 31 pitchers, 3 catchers, 17 infielders and 8 outfielders with their first round selections during the draft’s 50-year history. The team’s highest overall selection was pitcher Braden Looper (3rd pick overall) in 1996. The Cardinals have had just 11 top-10 selections, the last being outfielder J.D. Drew (5th overall) in 1998.
Following the first round selection of Plummer, the selected right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford out of Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., with the 39th overall selection in the competitive balance round following round one. In the second round, at pick number 66, the club selected third baseman Bryce Denton out of Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn.
Woodford, 18, who stands 6-4 and was dominant on the mound this season, posted a 7-0 record and 0.67 ERA in 10 games, nine starts. He struck out 57 batters in 52.0 innings pitched, walking only 10 as opponents hit just .200 against him. During his junior year at Plant High School, Woodford fanned 73 batters over 13 games, 11 starts and 65.1 innings, posting a 10-1 record with a 0.43 ERA. He was named 2015 Perfect Game 3rd Team All-American and Florida All-Region 1st Team. Woodford is a teammate of the #5 overall pick by Houston, Kyle Tucker, both committing to the University of Florida.
“Jacob Woodford is a starting pitcher prospect with advanced control of a sinking fastball, breaking ball and change-up,” Correa said. “I think he will thrive working alongside our talented pitching coaches.”
Denton, 17, was drafted as a third baseman by St. Louis, and also pitched for his high school team. An All-District 11-AAA and All-Region 6-AAA selection prior to his senior year, he earned All-State honors from the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association as well. Denton, a Vanderbilt commit, recorded a .476 average with 14 doubles and just 10 strikeouts during his senior season. At 6-2, 195 pounds, Denton was the top prep position player in Tennessee.
“We are excited for the opportunity to select Bryce Denton; he’s an advanced hitter with excellent power potential,” Correa said.
Rounds 3-10 of the 2015 draft will be held today, Tuesday, beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT.
— STL —
