Encanarcion-Strand Drafted Right in the Target Zone
STILLWATER – Weeks ago in talking about the Major League Baseball Draft there was no doubt in our minds at Pokes Report that third baseman Christian Encanarcion-Strand was going to be the first pick from Oklahoma State. Sure, we felt there were other Cowboys like rightfield Cade Cabbiness, left-handed pitcher Parker Scott, Jake Thompson, and Max Hewitt. It was Encanarcion-Strand that stood out. We projected him to go somewhere between the middle of the fourth round and the middle of the fifth round. Bullseye! Encarnacion-Strand was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday.
An All-American for the Cowboys in his first season in Stillwater in 2021, Encarnacion-Strand was selected with the 128th overall pick. That after MLB.com had him projected in the 180 range, but he topped that and for good reason.
Encarnacion-Strand led OSU in all three Triple Crown categories last season as he posted a .361 batting average to go along with 15 home runs and 66 RBIs. He also led the Cowboys with 82 hits, 17 doubles, 150 total bases and a .661 slugging percentage.
A native of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Encarnacion-Strand ranked sixth nationally in RBIs in 2021 and was 10th in the NCAA in total bases.h first-team All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year. Then he topped it with his All-America status. as well as NCBWA District VI Player of the Year.
He was a multiple Big 12 Player of the Week honoree and at the end of the season was both first-team All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year. Then he topped it with his All-America status. as well as NCBWA District VI Player of the Year.
He came to Oklahoma State after two sensational seasons at Yavapai College in Arizona and that
is what made him eligible for the draft each season, having started out in junior college.
He is the 47th OSU player selected in the MLB Draft in nine years under head coach Josh Holliday and the 15th chosen in the top 10 rounds. The slugger is also the fourth highest draft pick of the Holliday coaching era behind Jason Hursh (2013, 1st round, 31st overall), Kaden Polcovich (2020, 3rd round, 78th overall) and Thomas Hatch (2016, 3rd round, 104th overall).
The 2021 Major League Baseball Draft concludes with rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.