Brent Morel and Logan Schafer have more and more in common these days.
They both just finished their junior seasons at Cal Poly, in which they both had batting averages of at least .365, with at least 45 RBI apiece.
And Thursday, they were both selected by teams from the Midwest in the third round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
“It’s a huge thrill,” Morel said. “It’s a great payoff for all the hard work put in and all the years I’ve played baseball, and all the hours I’ve put in. My dream growing up was playing pro baseball, and this is the first step, so it’s pretty exciting.”
Morel, a third baseman, was chosen by the Chicago White Sox with the 86th overall pick. It was the first time being drafted for the Bakersfield native who led the Mustangs by hitting .368 while leading the Big West Conference in both RBI (60) and total bases (140) en route to all-conference first team honors.
“It was kind of a long day,” Morel said. “I went golfing in the morning, tried to waste a little bit of time, got back to the house and had some friends and family there.”
Morel said about a half-dozen teams had shown strong interest in his services, and he received a phone call at pick 82 from the White Sox, who informed him he’d be their choice if he were available four picks later.
“I just waited and saw it on the computer and it was official,” Morel said.
Schafer, a center fielder, was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 94th overall slot.
The Los Gatos native, who was also an all-conference first team member, after hitting .365 with 49 RBI, was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in the 31st round in 2006 following his freshman season at Cuesta College and in the 47th by the Colorado Rockies in 2007 after his sophomore year (spent with the Mustangs).
“I’m more than thrilled with it,” Schafer said. “I had my family all there – it was an awesome time for me.”
He said the Brewers were among those he felt would be most interested in him after a recent workout that went well.
“They were saying good things,” Schafer said. “But on draft day, you never know what happens until your name pops up.”
Drafted by teams less than an hour-and-a-half drive away, Morel and Schafer both voiced a desire to keep in touch.
” ‘Mo’ and I are great friends,” Schafer said. “Hopefully, both of us will do everything as well as we can and make it up to the big leagues.”
Their friendship should be even more valuable after moving across the country, Morel explained.
“We’re going to be traveling and moving far away,” he said. “So it’ll be kind of cool just to follow him, and we’ll stay in contact no matter what.”
Cal Poly has had 13 players selected in the initial 10 rounds of the past five drafts.
Two Mustangs sophomores, designated hitter Luke Yoder and right-hander Kevin Castner, are expected to be chosen during today’s 45 remaining rounds.