Former Sedalia Bombers pitcher Sam Perez was drafted Friday in the fifth round of the MLB first-year player draft by the Miami Marlins.
Perez, taken No. 143 overall, was the 2015 MINK League Pitcher of the Year, going 6-0 in six starts for the Bombers with a 1.07 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 42 innings. He allowed just seven runs on 24 hits last summer.
As a senior at Missouri State, Perez was 6-0 out of the bullpen for the Bears, striking out a Missouri Valley conference-high 112 strikeouts and posting a 2.86 ERA in 91 innings.
Other Missouri baseball players drafted include Joey Lucchesi of Southeast Missouri State in the fourth round by the San Diego Padres and Missouri University shortstop Ryan Howard, who was taken in the fifth round by the San Francisco Giants at No. 155.
The Kansas City Royals drafted nine players through Friday, picking Pepperdine University right-hander A.J. Puckett. The defending World Series champions picked prep outfielder Khalil Lee No.103 in the third round.
The Royals drafted college players in the next two rounds, picking right-hander Jace Vines, Texas A&M, in the fourth and shortstop Nicky Lopez, Creighton, in the fifth.
Kansas City drafted Alabama high school outfielder Cal Jones in the fifth, Oregon State right-handed pitcher Travis Eckert in the seventh, New Mexico first baseman Chris DeVito in the eighth, Stetson righty Walker Sheller in the ninth and Kennesaw State left-hander Richard Lovelady at No. 313 in the 10th round.
The Cardinals drafted 12 players through Friday, picking shortstop Delven Perez of Puerto Rico at No. 23 with their first of three first-round draft picks Thursday.
St. Louis drafted prep outfielder Dylan Carson at No. 33 and Mississippi State right-handed pitcher Dakota Hudson No. 34.
Connor Jones, Virginia, and Zac Gallen, North Carolina went in to St. Louis in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.
St. Louis drafted six position players with their next seven picks. Southern California catcher Jeremy Martinez went in the fourth round, George County High School outfielder Walker Robbins in the fifth, Stanford junior shortstop Tommy Edman in the sixth, North Carolina State catcher Andrew Knizner in the seventh, Minnesota outfielder Matt Fielder in the ninth and Western Kentucky third baseman Danny Hudzina in the 10th round.
Wichita State right-hander Sam Tewes was drafted No. 256 by the Cardinals in the eighth round.
