The Major League Baseball 2012 First-Year Player Draft was completed Wednesday afternoon with the St. Louis Cardinals selecting 44 total players in the 40-round draft. Among the Cardinals selections today were 15 pitchers, four outfielders, three catchers and three outfielders (21 pitchers, 12 infielders, six outfielders and five catchers total). Of the 44 draft picks, 36 were collegians and eight were high school picks.
The Cardinals set a club record by drafting five players with ties to the organization, including the sons of three members of the Major League coaching staff. Outfielder Tate Matheny (Manager: Mike Matheny) was selected in the 23rd round, infielder Eduardo Oquendo (Third Base Coach: Jose Oquendo) was selected in the 32nd round and right-handed pitcher Michael Aldrete (Bench Coach: Mike Aldrete), was selected in the 39th round. Jacoby Almaraz, son of Cardinals crosschecker Joe Almaraz, was selected in the 21st round as a first baseman and Derrick May, Jr., son of Cardinals minor league roving hitting instructor Derrick May, was drafted as an outfielder in the 37th round.
Matheny won the St. Louis-area Triple Crown batting .615 with 11 HR and 51 RBI, and helped lead Westminster Christian Academy to a MSHSAA Class 3 State Championship.
Players who had been previously drafted by MLB teams included Almaraz drafted twice prior by the Braves (2011) and Padres (2010); outfielder and 20th round pick Matthew Young (14th round, 2011, Rays); right-handed pitcher and 29th round pick Andy Hillis (49th round, 2009, Cardinals); and left-handed pitcher and 35th round pick Ben O’Shea (10th round, 2011, White Sox).
Other notable picks included 16th round selection right-handed pitcher Joe Scanio, a St. Louis native, who pitched at Northwestern State University. Right-handed pitcher Steven Gallardo, the 20th round pick, was the 2011 South Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year at Long Beach City College throwing a 10-inning no-hitter with 17 strikeouts on April 27 versus Compton College. Casey Schroeder, a switch-hitting catcher and 22nd round pick was rated as the No. 1 high school catcher in Ohio.
