SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball had two players selected on Tuesday, the second day of the 2015 MLB Draft. Jose Vizcaino, Jr. became the second-highest Bronco pick since 1997 when the San Francisco Giants selected him in the 7th round (No. 216 overall). Just 22 picks later, the Tampa Bay Rays selected Reece Karalus in the 8th round (No. 238 overall).
Tuesday marked the first time in 18 years that the Broncos had a pair of players selected in the first eight rounds of the same draft. The last pair was Paul Chiaffredo (6th round – No. 179 – Toronto Blue Jays) and Mike Frank (7th round – No. 218 – Cincinnati Reds) in 1997.
"What a great day for Jose, Reece and their families, and for Bronco Baseball to celebrate these two great human beings and their accomplishments both on and off the field," head coach Dan O'Brien said. "I'm so proud of them, and of this staff and family of players who've helped them along the way. Jose and Reece are awesome in every way, and have a bright future in this great game."
Jose Vizcaino, Jr. — San Francisco Giants — Round 7 (No. 216 Overall)
Vizcaino, Jr. — a First Team All-WCC selection in 2015 — posted a .335 batting average for the Broncos in 2015, and led the ream in hits (65) doubles (14), triples (4, t-T.J. Braff), home runs (9), RBIs (39), runs scored (43) slugging percentage (.588) and stolen bases (10). The La Jolla, Calif. native started all 27 WCC games for the Broncos and led the WCC in hits (45), RBIs (25, t-Mitchell Gunsolus), triples (4, t-Matt Gelalich, Hutton Moyer), total bases (77) and slugging percentage (.688) in conference play.
Vizcaino, Jr. earned First Team All-WCC honors as a sophomore in 2014 and was named preseason First Team All-WCC in 2015. He won three WCC Rawlings Player of the Week awards during the 2015 season — more than any other player or pitcher. Vizcaino, Jr. was also named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List this season.
His father, two-time World Series champion Jose Vizcaino, played for the Giants in 1997 and 2006.
Reece Karalus — Tampa Bay Rays — Round 8 (No. 238 Overall)
Karalus — a second-team All-WCC Selection in 2015 — began the year as Santa Clara's closer, posting nine saves from Feb. 21 through April 7, including two conference saves against No. 30 San Diego March 22 and Pacific March 28. He moved into the weekend rotation in mid-April and posted a 3.00 ERA in 27 innings as a starter during conference play. The North Bend, Wash. native threw three quality starts of 7.0 innings and set a career high with 11 strikeouts twice: April 24 vs. Gonzaga and May 14 vs. BYU. He struck out 42 batters against six walks (7:1 K:BB) in 38.0 conference innings this season.
Karalus earned First Team All-WCC honors as a sophomore in 2014 and was named preseason First Team All-WCC in 2015. He was named to the NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List each of the last two seasons.
