Four Cowboys, Including Roc Riggio, Hear Their Name in First Hour, Second Day MLB Draft
STILLWATER – Four Oklahoma State baseball players heard their name called in the first hour of the second day of the MLB Draft, which moves at warp speed compared to the opening night. Pitcher Juaron Watts-Brown was the first Oklahoma State player picked as the former Long Beach State transfer was picked with the No. 89 overall and pick 19 in the third round to the Toronto Blue Jays. Just two picks later Nolan McLean, a standout two-way player for the program was pick No. 91 going to the New York Mets. McLean had been a high pick a year ago to the Baltimore Orioles, but there was a reported medical hangup in him signing, so he was back in Stillwater this past season.
Two other Cowboys were picked early on Monday with shortstop Marcus Brown going with the first selection in the fifth round to the Washington Nationals. The pick was No. 138 for the Arkansas native. Going ahead of Brown in the fourth round with pick No. 129 was second baseman Roc Riggio. Riggio was selected by the New York Yankees and the team seems like a fit. Riggio has been the face of Oklahoma State baseball as much as any player the past two seasons and he could be a marquee type player in New York City.
Values are kind of set now and slotted for each selection in the MLB Draft. I believe all four of the first picks off the Oklahoma State team will be able to come to an agreement and will sign.
Riggio has been the kind of player that fans gravitate to. If you are a player, Riggio is the kind of guy you love as a teammate and you can’t stand as an opponent. The spotlight seems to find Riggio and his performance often finds the spotlight.
His slotted value is $506,800. I believe he might be able to command more from the Yankees organization.
This season Riggio hit .335 with 61 RBI. he had 18 home runs to lead the team and he played second base with a flair that fans enjoyed watching. His fielding percentage was .975 with just six errors and a team high 155 assists and 76 putouts.
In the 2021 season in a regional that many believed to be one of the most exciting in the modern era of NCAA baseball, Riggio became the star even though it was Arkansas that beat Oklahoma State in the regional final. Riggio put on a hitting show in the regional. He is a clutch player with star quality.
Watts-Brown came in this season expected to be the ace of the Oklahoma State pitching staff and while his stuff was electric, his performance and results too often fell short. He finished the season 6-5 with a 5.03 ERA. He found himself being juggled in the pitching rotation as the s=coaching staff tried to find a way to make him comfortable. He was the team strike out leader going away with 124 in 82.1 innings pitched. He walked 48 hitters and allowed 46 earned runs on 68 hits. Scouts still loved him, but his inconsistency was frustrating. The value of the pick here for Watts-Brown, who was ranked as the 67-best prospect, is $771,500.
Nolan McLean, overcame injury this season to finish 1-2 with six saves on the mound and a 3.30 ERA. He struck out 34 hitters and walked 17 in 30 innings pitched and he started the season as a reliever and came back to pitch as a starter late in the season.
As a hitter he had to recapture his rhythm following a midseason knee injury. He finished with a .250 average but had 29 RBI and nine home runs. It will be interesting to see what the Mets want to do with him. His value would appear to be more as a pitcher, but the former high school standout quarterback can hit tape measure shot bombs at the plate. McLean is looking at a value of $747,600 for his selection in the third round.
Marcus Brown has been a steady backbone for Oklahoma State baseball that has played several positions including outfield, third base, and made a home at shortstop the past two seasons. This year he hit .273 with 36 RBI. He finished with nine home runs, two triples, and 10 doubles. he and Riggio teamed up on a high number of double plays.
The first pick in the fifth round has a value of $506,800.
Brian Hendry became the fifth Oklahoma State player to be picked in the 2023 MLB Draft as he was taken with pick No. 312 in the tenth round by the New York Yankees. Hendry, a transfer senior from St. John’s finished the season for the Cowboys with a 2-1 record and a 6.63 ERA. He only threw 36.2 innings on the season.