Senior shortstop Ben Orloff, the Big West Player of the Year who was named first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn. Wednesday, was selected in the ninth round (281st overall) by the Houston Astros.
Vanguard University junior outfielder Nick Akins was picked in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Daniel Cooper, a product of Costa Mesa High and Orange Coast College, was selected in the 21st round by the Seattle Mariners (No. 623 overall).
Cory Hamilton, a junior pitcher at UCI this season, was a 23rd-round pick by the Detroit Tigers (No. 690 overall).
Three high school players who had been recruited to play at UCI, and one expected to attend Orange Coast College, were also drafted Wednesday.
OCC sophomore standout Brett Wallach was chosen in the third round by the Dodgers on Tuesday.
More UCI players, as well as UCI signee and OCC sophomore standout Drew Hillman, are expected to be chosen today in rounds 31 through 50.
Orloff, who was taken in the 19th round by the Colorado Rockies after his junior season, hit .358 with 91 hits, 62 runs, 18 stolen bases and 28 runs batted in during his final campaign. It was Orloff’s leadership that also helped the Anteaters (45-15) win the school’s first Big West championship and earn the program’s first No. 1 national ranking.
Orloff heads to the pro ranks with UCI career records for hits (280), runs (178) and games played (241).
