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Toros Cody Puckett Selected in the 8th Round by the Cincinnati Reds
Junior drafted as the 239th pick in 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the first player from the West Region chosen
6/6/2008 4:15:17 PM
Carson, CA - Junior shortstop Cody Puckett, arguably one of the most dangerous offensive players in the CCAA this season, this morning received the call that all little leaguers dream of when they first pick up a ball and a bat ... the call that he was drafted with the seventh pick in the eighth round by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, making him the 239th pick overall and first amongst all West Region players chosen.
“When they called me this morning I was actually playing video games,” begins the 2008 1st-Team All-CCAA honoree. “After the call I went straight to my computer to check the internet to make sure it was real, and then I had to buy a bunch of Reds gear. It really hasn’t hit me yet, but I think that later tonight when I am celebrating, I will feel it.”
The Apple Valley, CA native was an offensive force for the Toros this season, leading the CCAA at the end of the regular season in home runs (17), stolen bases (26), total bases (130), runs scored (61), walks (42), and steal attempts (29), while finishing in the top 10 in assists (158), RBIs (49), slugging percentage (.644), at bats (202), on-base percentage (.462), and hits (68).
Despite being overlooked for all the all-region teams, Puckett, the first player drafted amongst the entire West Region (CCAA, GNAC, PacWest), follows former Toros Mateo Marquez (2007, 47th round - St. Louis Cardinals) and Ryan Owen (2006, 16th round - Tampa Bay Rays) in the current streak of Toros drafted.
“I am really excited for him because is something that he has really worked hard for,” begins CSUDH baseball head coach Murphy Su’a. “Going inside the top 10 is a big honor and being number 239 out of tens of thousands of hopefuls across the country is amazing, and he deserves it. I think with his talent he is going to prove that he may have been deserving of a higher draft pick, but regardless of when he was taken I think he is going to play this game for a long time. He came to us as an outfielder/pitcher, and I believe that he could be one of the premier outfielders at the pro level with all the tools he has.”
Still waiting for all the details and to sign his contract later tonight, it looks like Puckett will report to the Billings Mustangs in Billings, MT, which is the Reds’ minor league affiliate. The Mustang roster already is familiar with the CCAA with first baseman Eli Rimes (Sonoma State, 2007, 25th round) and pitcher Anthony Romero (Cal Poly Pomona, 2007, non-drafted free agent) already there.
Overall the draft was a bright spot for the CCAA with nine players being selected in Travis Babin (Sonoma State - 16th - Mets), Konrad Thieme (Sonoma State - 23rd - Marlins), Marquis Fleming (Cal State Stanislaus - 24th - Rays), Henry Contreras (Cal State L.A. - 24th - Mariners), Kyle Woodriff (Chico State - 27th - Giants), Kevin Asselin (Sonoma State - 30th - White Sox), Matt Long (San Bernardino - 34th - Rays), Matt Means (Sonoma State - 37th - Padres).
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