Red Sox Draft SS Michael Chavis In First Round Of MLB Draft
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Red Sox have selected shortstop Michael Chavis with their first round pick of the 2014 MLB Draft. Chavis is out of Sprayberry Senior High School in Marietta, Georgia and is committed to go to Clemson.
The 5-foot-10, 190 pound 18-year-old was taken Thursday with the 26th overall selection.
Chavis hit .580 (47-for-81) with nine doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 37 RBI, and 21 stolen bases in 28 games, leading Sprayberry High School to an 18-11 overall record and this spring's 7AAAAA regional championship. The right-handed hitter was named the 2014 Georgia Gatorade High School Player of the Year and also earned Southeast All-Region First-Team designation.
"Our approach each year is to select the best players available to us and we believe Michael fits that description," said Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Amiel Sawdaye. "He was undoubtedly one of the best high school hitters in this this year's class, and we were fortunate to have him. In addition, we believe his athleticism and defensive versatility will also be an asset to us."
With the 33rd overall pick, a compensatory selection for losing Jacoby Ellsbury, the Sox took right handed pitcher Michael Kopech from Mt. Pleasant High School in Texas.
Kopech, 18, went 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA and a .115 opponent batting average over 11 appearances this season for Mt. Pleasant. He allowed only four earned runs, 25 hits, and 18 walks all season, and tied for the lead Division 4A pitchers with 129 strikeouts in just 64.0 innings pitched.
With their second-round selection, 67th overall, the Red Sox drafted first baseman Sam Travis from Indiana University.
Travis, 22, hit .347 (85-for-245) as a junior this season with 16 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, 58 RBI, and 25 walks in 59 games for Indiana University. A First-Team All-Big Ten selection and Second Team Louisville Slugger All-American in 2014, he led the team in hits, doubles (tied), and RBI, and helped the Hoosiers to the Big Ten Championship and their first College World Series appearance.
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