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The second day of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft was another big day for the Nutmeg State. After UConn stars and Connecticut natives George Springer and Matt Barnes were taken in the first round, several more homegrown athletes were selected in rounds two through 30 on Tuesday.
Headlining the picks is New Canaan High School graduate Curt Casali. The former three-sport Rams star was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round of the draft. The 317th pick overall, Casali plays for Vanderbilt, which is in the Super Regionals of the college baseball playoffs.
Amity High School graduate Jason Esposito, Casali's Vanderbilt teammate, was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round--the 64th pick overall. Taylor Lewis of Montville was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 302nd pick, and Daniel Paolini of Stratford was taken by the Seattle Mariners as 303rd pick. Michael Gallic of Tolland rounded out the Connecticut natives taken on the second day, drafted by the San Diego Padres 563rd overall.
Five other UConn players were drafted, including Nick Ahmed (Braves, 85th pick), John Andreoli (Cubs, 519th pick), Greg Nappo (Marlins, 553rd pick), Kevin Vance (White Sox, 591st pick) and Mike Nemeth (Brewers, 641st pick).
The 10 Connecticut natives selected in the first two days of the draft are the most since 2008, when 12 were selected in the first 30 rounds.
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