Rangers Select RHP Dillon Tate In First Round

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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -- A 2014 season worth forgetting finally paid dividend for the Texas Rangers.

With the 4th overall selection in Monday's draft, Texas selected the first pitcher, right-hander Dillon Tate out of the University of California-Santa Barbara. Tate, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-hander was a 2015 Louisville Slugger All-American and Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist at UCSB.

[tweet https://twitter.com/Rangers/status/608065373947228161 width='330']

As a starter this season, he went 8-5 with a 2.26 ERA (26 ER/103.1 IP) and 111 strikeouts against 28 walks in 14 starts. Tate spent the 2013 season as the Gauchos' closer, recording 12 saves.

"He started all year and we believe that is what he is," Rangers scouting director Kip Fagg said. "We're very confident he'll be a starter. Great makeup ... we've got a power pitcher who is going to be a starter."

He was rated a top-5 prospect by Baseball America (3), MLB.com (5) and ESPN (4).

"Tate showed the best stuff in the U.S. collegiate national team's stellar bullpen during the summer. He pairs a 92-98 mph fastball with a sharp 86-87 mph slider. He mixes in a fringy curveball and his changeup has the chance to be above-average as well. Tate missed more bats in 2015 than he had previously." -- MLB.com

Tate attended Claremont High School in California and played summer ball for the Urban Youth Academy.

In the second round, Texas selected high school outfielder Eric Jenkins at 45th overall.

Last season, the 6-foot-2, 165-pound Jenkins batted .300 (24-80) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 15 RBI, 23 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases at West Columbus High School in Cerro Gordo, North Carolina. He was 50-for-50 in stolen base attempts in his last two prep seasons.

Jenkins was rated the 21st-best position player and 42nd-best overall prospect by Baseball America.

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