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Four Toros Drafted on Day Three of the MLB Draft

Four Toros in (clockwise, from top left) Carlos Leyva, Kevin Pillar, Josh Corrales and Jonathan Keener were drafted on Day Three of the MLB Draft
NEW YORK, New York -- For the first time in program history, the Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball team had four Toros drafted in the MLB Draft, including one signee.  The first three selections came in the 32nd round within eight picks of each other, and one pick in the 44th round.  Four-year seniors Carlos Leyva and Kevin Pillar were the first two off the board followed by juniors Jonathan Keener and Josh Corrales.

With four Toros going in the MLB Draft, the program broke another record as having two Toros selected two was the previous high mark, happening five times before.  The three Toros selected in one round also set a record as only once before had multiple Toros been selected in the same round, occurring in the 27th round of the 1988 MLB Draft. 

"We are thrilled for our drafted players and looking forward to following their professional careers," said CSUDH head coach Murphy Su'a, obviously excited.  "They each worked very hard individually and collectively for this opportunity and will now shift gears for the next level.  As delighted as I am about their draft selections I am extremely proud of their academic accomplishments with Pillar having graduated this spring and Leyva only two classes from his degree, with Keener and Corrales promising to return to complete their degrees if they choose to sign professionally."

The New York Mets began CSUDH's selections with their first-ever selection of a Toro.  CCAA and school record holding second baseman Leyva was their selection with the 972nd overall pick, signing him as a shortstop.  The Los Angeles native ranked at or near the top of nearly every offensive category for the Toros including leading the CCAA in stolen bases with 22.  Leyva finished this season with a sweep of all three All-American awards, giving him a program-record five total awards in his four stellar years in Carson.

Just seven selections later and the 979th overall, the Toronto Blue Jays grabbed their first-ever CSUDH selection in center fielder Pillar.  He ranked tops in average, hits, triples, total bases and slugging on the team while leading the CCAA in doubles with 21.  As the school and CCAA record holder of many categories, he put the Toros on the map with his Division-II record 54-game hitting streak that he set during his junior year in Cardinal and Gold.

For the second time in the last three years, the St. Louis Cardinals took a Cal State Dominguez Hills Toro, tabbing catcher Keener with their pick.  Keener was selected 980th overall as the tail end of back-to-back selections with Pillar, and the third overall selection in the 32nd round for CSUDH.  Keener led the Toros in home runs and became one of the most feared bats in the CCAA after a 16-game stretch that saw him hit eight home runs to go along with five doubles.

After establishing himself as the ace of the CSUDH staff, junior Josh Corrales was the first-ever Toro to be drafted by the Seattle Mariners with this selection in the 44th round and the 1323rd overall pick.  This also marks the second straight the a CSUDH player has gone to the Mariners as former Toro Kody Kurowski pitched for them in the minors last season after signing as an undrafted free agent.

Among the CCAA schools, 15 total players were selected with over a quarter of the representing the Cardinal and Gold of CSU Dominguez Hills.  The Toros had the most players drafted with four as seven of the 11 teams had at least one player taken in the 50 rounds.

Toro signee Ryan Sherriff from Glendale Community College was selected for the second time in the MLB draft.  This season he was chosen as the 680th overall pick in the 28th round by the St. Louis Cardinals after going in the 33rd round to the Washington Nationals in the 2010 MLB Draft.

"We were very excited to have landed Ryan Sherriff at CSUDH" stated coach Su'a. "We knew going in that Ryan was a strong candidate to be selected in the MLB Draft and we're equally excited for his selection.  

"I truly believe that Ryan would continue to develop as a pitcher in our program at Cal State Dominguez Hills and make himself more attractive in next year's draft.  However, the notion of embarking on a professional baseball career is also enticing for these young men.  Whatever Ryan's decision (college or pro) we will be very supportive and will strongly encourage him to continue his college education and complete his degree."

The Toro quartet joins three former Toros in MLB organizations, with Cincinnati Reds farmhand Cody Puckett leading the way in AA while Dodgers minor leaguer Bret Montgomery and Red Sox player Matt Phillips look to continue up the ladder to the show.
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