In the 2012 MLB first year player draft, which began on Monday, six members of the Glendale Angelenos were selected. These six make a total of 15 Angelenos drafted in the two seasons the ball club has been established. The drafted players were Alonzo Gonzalez, Chad Nacapoy, Steven Gallardo, Matthew Young, Randall Fant and Alex Muren.

Gonzalez, a left-handed pitcher who finished his first year at Glendale Community College, was taken in the 18th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Gonzalez finished his season for Glendale with a 7-2 record and a 2.59 earned-run average. On the second day of the draft when Gonzalez was taken, he was in contact with Toronto and the St. Louis Cardinals throughout the day.

Nacapoy, a Crescenta Valley High School graduate, was drafted in the 38th round by the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. Nacapoy, a catcher, recently finished his senior year at CSU Los Angeles where he finished the season batting .361 with two home runs in 24 games. He worked out recently for the Rays at Cal Poly Pomona and said, “Just take me and I’ll go, just give me an opportunity and I’ll take it.”

The highest drafted Angeleno was right hand pitcher Muren of CSU Northridge, who was drafted in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins.

Fant is a left-handed pitcher who was taken in the 29th round by the Cleveland Indians. Fant recently finished his junior year at the University of Arkansas with a record of 2-2 and an earned-run average of 3.26 in 47 innings pitched.

Angelenos Gallardo of Long Beach City College and Young of CSU Dominguez Hills were taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the rounds 19 and 20 rounds.

The Angelenos finish the week with six players expecting to sign professional baseball contracts in the near future.

Head Coach and General Manager Tony Riviera said, “Any time you get drafted, it’s a damn good day.”

As the summer moves on it is expected that several players will sign to colleges and some to pick up free agent signings.