Desert Mountain shortstop Taylor Lindsey settled in to watch the first round of the Major League Baseball draft on Monday with friends and family, not really counting on his name being called.
It turned out to be must-see TV.
The Los Angeles Angels made Lindsey the first local player drafted, taking him with the 37th overall pick in the supplemental first round.
Lindsey hit .594 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs last season, leading the Wolves to the 5A-II state title game.
"I was thinking I would go somewhere in the top three rounds," Lindsey said. "That high was crazy."
Lindsey said there was plenty of yelling and a few tears of joy at his house when his name was announced.
"It was insane," Lindsey said. "Everyone was so happy."
Lindsey has committed to Arizona State, but since he was drafted so highly, the odds of him turning professional have increased.
Last year's No. 37 pick, James Paxton of Kentucky, didn't sign, but signing bonus slot money for that pick is generally north of $850,000.
"I'm leaning more towards signing, but I still have to discuss it with my parents," Lindsey said.
More detailed talks will come after the draft, but Angels brass told Lindsey they'd like to keep him in the infield. While he played shortstop in high school, scouts believe Lindsey profiles better at second base or left field.
Lindsey was the first player with Arizona ties to get taken in the draft.
Arizona State right-hander Seth Blair went at No. 46, also in the compensation round, to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Blair, the Sun Devils' staff ace after left-hander Josh Spence went down with an elbow injury in the pre-season, is 12-0 with 3.06 ERA this season.
He was recently named the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year.
Fellow Sun Devil Jordan Swagerty also went to the Cardinals, in the second round at No. 75 overall.
Swagerty is 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA this season and has 14 saves.
Right-hander Merrill Kelly (eighth round), outfielder Kole Calhoun (eighth), left-hander Josh Spence (9th), outfielder Drew Maggi (12th), left-hander/outfielder Jimmy Patterson (18th), infielder Raoul Torrez (21st), catcher Xorge Carrillo (23) and right-hander Jake Borup (23) were the other ASU players taken in the first 30 rounds. Spence went in the third round last year, but opted to return for his senior season. He did not pitch this year because of an elbow injury and saw his draft stock fall.
Chaparral's James McDonald was the second local high schooler taken, chosen in the 11th round (No. 338 overall) by the Chicago White Sox. Desert Ridge's Travis Flores went three picks later to Tampa Bay. Mountain Pointe's Josh Alexander was drafted in the 19th round.
The final 20 rounds of the draft will finish up Wednesday.
Local players drafted in the first 30 rounds
Name Pos. School Rd Pick Team
Taylor Lindsey IF Desert Mountain 1 37 Angels
Seth Blair RHP Arizona State 1 46 Cardinals
Jordan Swagerty RHP Arizona State 2 75 Cardinals
Merrill Kelly RHP Desert Mountain/ASU 8 251 Rays
Kole Calhoun OF Arizona State 8 264 Angels
Kevn Rhoderick RHP Horizon/Oregon State 9 280 Cubs
James McDonald IF Chaparral 11 338 White Sox
Travis Flores IF Desert Ridge 11 341 Rays
Drew Maggi OF Brophy/ASU 15 447 Pirates
Jason Mitchell RHP Desert Mountain/Texas-Arlington 15 449 Royals
Jimmy Patterson LHP McClintock/ASU 18 551 Rays
Josh Alexander OF Mountain Pointe 19 577 Reds
Raoul Torrez IF Brophy/ASU 21 631 Diamondbacks
Xorge Carrillo C McClintock/ASU 23 694 San Diego
Jake Borup RHP Mountain View/ASU 23 711 Phillies
Jeff Urlaub LHP Horizon/Grand Canyon 30 905 Oakland
