MLB draft: Mt. Spokane’s Brady Hill among local names called on Day 3

Brady Hill, Mt. Spokane center fielder and leadoff hitter, was selected in the 39th round by the Colorado Rockies on Day 3 of the MLB draft on Wednesday.

Hill was the Greater Spokane League’s Most Valuable Player this year and led the Wildcats to a 22-3 record and a trip to the State 3A tournament, where they fell to Lake Washington 10-2 in a quarterfinal. Hill led the GSL in stolen bases three years in a row.

“Obviously, this is a great feeling to get drafted by a big league club,” Hill said. “It’s hard to wrap my head around it and it’s a dream come true.”

Hill is committed to Washington State for next season.

“It’s an honor (to be drafted), but it doesn’t change my plans to go to Washington State next year,” he said.

Hill becomes the third player from Mt. Spokane to be selected in the MLB draft, following Jarek Cunningham (Pittsburgh, 18th round, 2008) and Drew Rasmussen, who was drafted three times, most recently in the sixth round of the 2018 draft by Milwaukee.

“It says a lot about our program and our coaching staff to get guys drafted,” Hill said.

“It’s fun and very exciting for him,” Mt. Spokane coach Alex Schuerman said. “Regardless of what Brady ends up doing, no one can say differently. You got drafted.”

Two Gonzaga position players were among the local athletes selected on Day 3.

Right fielder Troy Johnston was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 17th round and catcher Austin Pinorini was taken in the 22nd round by the Cleveland Indians.

Johnston led the Zags with a .330 batting average, .402 on-base percentage and .610 slugging percentage. He hit 10 home runs and 27 doubles with 46 RBIs in 55 games.

Pinorini hit .270/.367/.379 with one homer and 34 RBIs in 55 games.

Right-hander Reed Harrington of Community Colleges of Spokane was taken in the 20th round by the Boston Red Sox. Harrington went 1-1 with 12 saves and 31 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings over 17 appearances for the Sasquatch.

Washington State had four players picked: left-handed pitcher A.J. Block went to the Detroit Tigers in the 17th round; shortstop Andres Alvarez was selected in the 22nd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates; center fielder Danny Sinatro was taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 32nd round; and first baseman Dillon Plew was picked in the 40th round by the Houston Astros.

University of Washington had four players drafted: LHP Chris Micheles (14th round, Philadelphia); OF Connor Blair (15th, Atlanta); RHP Jordan Jones (16th, Cleveland); and SS Ben Baird (34th, St. Louis).

Other state players drafted

LHP Brock Jones (WF West HS, 16th, Arizona); RHP Will Simpson (Skyline HS, 18th, Pittsburgh); OF Zane Zurbrugg (Shoreline CC, 27th, Milwaukee); RHP Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa (Pierce College, 30th, Texas); LHP Jake Prizina (Seattle U, 31th, Baltimore); 1B Torin Montgomery (Lake Washington HS, 35th, Milwaukee); SS Owen Cobb (Garfield HS, 37th, San Diego); and RHP Jacob Forrester (Central Washington, 37th, Cleveland).