Derek True, a former Santa Barbara High star who pitched in 40 games for Cal Poly the last three years, may make his next pitch in professional baseball.
The 6-foot-2 righthander was selected Tuesday in the 20th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics.
Three players from UCSB — pitcher Ryan Harvey, first baseman Blake Klassen and third baseman Bryce Willits — as well as Gaucho recruit Austin Charles were also chosen on the third and final day of the draft.
Three other Gauchos — Jordan Sprinkle, Nick Vogt and Cory Lewis — were selected during Monday’s fourth-through-10th rounds on Monday. Also drafted on Monday were Westmont College catcher Simon Reid, former San Marcos-SBCC pitcher Ian Churchill from the University of San Diego, and former Dos Pueblos High pitcher Isaac Coffey from Oral Roberts.
True was one of the top relief pitchers for a Mustangs team that went 37-21 overall and finished second to UCSB in the Big West Conference race with a 22-8 mark. He made 19 appearances, posting a win-loss record of 1-1 with an earned run average of 4.79. He struck out 23 batters in 20 2/3 innings.
He won Channel League Most Valuable Player honors in 2019 after leading the Dons to the conference championship. He posted a win-loss record of 9-1 that season with a 2.20 ERA and 75 strikeouts. True was also picked to the CIF-Southern Section’s All-Division 2 Team that year.
Harvey, a 6-3 righthanded sophomore from Woodcreek, Ca., was chosen in the 11th round (340th overall) by the New York Yankees.
He served much of this season as the closer of a UCSB bullpen which set a school record with 20 saves. His 11 individual saves rank fourth-best in school history. He struck out 37 batters and walked just eight in 29 1/3 innings and finished the season with an earned run average of 3.68.
Klassen, a former Arizona recruit who transferred to UCSB this year from Eastern Oklahoma State community college, was chosen in the 17th round (501st) overall by the Washington Nationals.
The 6-2 sophomore from Rancho Mission Viejo led the Gauchos with a batting average of .352. His slugging percentage of .648 also topped a lineup that finished with a record of 44-14 and won the Big West championship with a 27-3 mark.
Klassen hit 10 home runs and had 21 extra-base hits while batting mostly in the leadoff position and as UCSB’s designated hitter.
Willits, a junior from Capistrano Valley, was picked in the 18th round (551st overall) by the Chicago White Sox after batting.302 with a team-high 18 doubles. He also hit five homers and scored 40 runs.
His partner on the left side of the Gaucho infield, shortstop Jordan Sprinkle, was selected by the White Sox in Monday’s fourth round.
Centerfielder Nick Vogt (seventh round, San Diego Padres) and pitcher Cory Lewis (ninth round, Minnesota Twins) were also drafted on Monday. UCSB’s six total selections were the most of any Big West team, two more than Cal Poly and Long Beach State.
Charles, a 6-foot-6 shortstop and pitcher, was projected by MLB.com to be a fourth-round pick (109th overall) but his high asking price to sign a contract dropped him to Tuesday’s 20th round. He was taken by the Kansas City Royals as the No. 595 overall pick. Unless he receives a high-priced offer, he is likely to remain unsigned and play for the Gauchos next year.
He led Stockdale High to a CIF-Central Section championship while batting .483 with 13 homers and 19 stolen bases. Charles also posted a pitching record of 5-0 with a 1.36 earned run average and 62 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings.
The rest of the Gaucho recruits — including Scripps Ranch High pitcher Tyler Bremner, who was MLB.com’s No. 203 prospect — went undrafted.
Churchill, Coffey and True were among 16 players drafted who’ve previously played for the Santa Barbara Foresters’ summer collegiate team. Jace Jung (Detroit, 12th overall pick), Spencer Jones (New York Yankees, 25) and Justin Campbell (Cleveland, 37) were all picked in the first round.
Peyton Graham (Detroit, 51) and Peyton Pallette (Chicago White Sox, 62) were both second-round selections, while Steven Zobac (Kansas City, 115) went in the fourth.
The rest of the Forester draftees: fifth round — Sean McLain (Los Angeles Dodgers, 165); seventh round — Seth Stephenson (Detroit, 207); 13th round — Blake Adams (Colorado, 386); 15th round — Kyle Luckham (Washington, 441) and Tanner O’Tremba (San Francisco, 466); 16th round —Andrew Kachel (San Francisco, 496), and 20th round — Ryan Wroblaski (Houston, 613).