Eight current or former Waterloo Bucks were drafted on the third day of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday (June 11), bringing the total number of Bucks drafted to 12.

Dustin Hurlbutt, Drasen Johnson, Ryan Nagle, Pat MacKenzie, Aaron Rhodes, Keegan Long, Adam Bray and Tyler Peyton were all taken between the 16th and 33rd rounds on the third and final day of the 40-round draft. They join four other former Bucks players who were taken between rounds seven and nine on Tuesday..


Waterloo Bucks Logo
Waterloo Bucks Logo
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The first Waterloo player selected on the third day of the 2015 MLB Draft was right-handed pitcher Dustin Hurlbutt, who was taken in the 16th round with the 488th pick by the Oakland Athletics.

A product of Tabor College, Hurlbutt is currently on the Bucks roster but has yet to report to Waterloo.

This spring season for the Bluejays, Hurlbutt was named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-KCAC selection after finishing with a 10-3 record and a 3.16 ERA.


Waterloo Bucks - Drasen Johnson
Drasen Johnson
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With the 767th overall pick (26th round), the Colorado Rockies selected right-handed pitcher Drasen Johnson.

A product of the University of Illinois, Johnson played for the Bucks in 2013 and ’14, compiling a 7-0 record with a 2.14 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 19 games.

This season for the Fighting Illini, Johnson was named a first team Mideast All-Region and second team All-Big Ten starting pitcher after finishing with a 10-3 record and a 2.01 ERA.


Waterloo Bucks - Ryan Nagle
Ryan Nagle
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The third Buck of the day to be selected in the draft was outfielder Ryan Nagle who was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 27th round with the 817th overall pick.

Nagle played with Waterloo in 2014 and is currently on the team’s roster but has yet to report. In 2014, Nagle hit .286 with 33 RBI in 47 games for the Bucks.

This spring for the Fighting Illini, Nagle was named a third team All-Big Ten outfielder with a .339 average, a .449 slugging percentage and 34 RBI.


Waterloo Bucks - Pat MacKenzie
Pat MacKenzie
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Pat MacKenzie, a second baseman from Central Michigan University, was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 28th round.

MacKenzie, selected 850th overall, played with the Bucks in 2013 and ‘14 compiling a .315 average with 56 RBI and a team-record 61 stolen bases.

This season for the Chippewas, MacKenzie was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Mideast All-Region second team, starting all 57 of CMU's games and finishing with a .348 batting average, 72 hits, 60 runs, 51 walks, 24 stolen bases, and a .489 on-base percentage.


Waterloo Bucks - Aaron Rhodes
Aaron Rhodes
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The next former Buck to be drafted was right-handed pitcher Aaron Rhodes, was taken in the 28th round with the 855th pick by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

A product of the University of Florida, Rhodes appeared in 11 games for Waterloo in 2013, finishing with a 5-4 record, a 3.19 ERA, and 74 strikeouts.

For the Gators this spring, Rhodes is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 appearances.


Waterloo Bucks Logo
Waterloo Bucks Logo
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Right-handed pitcher Keegan Long was taken in the 29th round with the 856th pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A product of St. Joseph’s College, Long is currently on the Bucks roster, but has yet to report to Waterloo.

This spring season for the Pumas, Long appeared in nine games and threw 54.1 innings with 3.15 ERA.


Waterloo Bucks - Tyler Peyton
Tyler Peyton
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With the 985th overall pick (33rd round), the Cincinnati Reds selected right-handed pitcher Tyler Peyton.

A product of the University of Iowa, Peyton played for the Bucks in 2013, appearing in four games and finishing with a 1-0 record, a 3.20 ERA, and 16 strikeouts in 19.2 innings pitched.

This season for the Hawkeyes, Peyton went 7-4 with a 3.03 ERA on the mound, logging 95 innings where he had 75 strikeouts against 24 walks. He hopes to improve on those numbers next season. On Thursday, Peyton announced he's returning for his senior season at Iowa in 2016.


Waterloo Bucks - Adam Bray
Adam Bray
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The final former Buck to be selected was Adam Bray, a right-handed pitcher taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 1,002nd overall pick (33rd round).

A product of South Dakota State University, Bray played for Waterloo in 2014, finishing the season at 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA.

This season for the Jackrabbits, Bray posted an 8-4 record with a 2.96 earned run average in 14 starts, striking out 80 and walking only 25 in 91 1/3 innings.

 

**Photos: Courtesy of Waterloo Bucks**

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