Pirates Have Three Selected in 2017 MLB Draft

The Ventura College baseball team had three players selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball that concluded Wednesday. VC alumnus Greg Minier '15 was selected in the 32nd round by the Chicago White Sox while current Pirates Austin Rubick and Andrew Nardi were taken by the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees in the 20th and 39th rounds, respectively. These are VC's first draft picks since 2014 when Ryan Jones '11 was taken by the White Sox.

Rubick, a hard-throwing right hand pitcher from Buena High School was the first Pirate selected. The sophomore transferred to VC from the University of Arizona and was 2-4 with a 6.32 ERA in 2017 with 59 strikeouts in 57 innings of work. He picked up a no-decision in half of his 12 starts this season.

Minier, who was a starting pitcher while he was at VC, moved to the bullpen at the University of Washington.  The Channel Islands High School product was 2-2 with a 3.53 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched in 2017 for the Huskies. THe hard-throwing lefty appeared in 33 games, tying for third most in UW single-season history. He ended his  career at UW appearing in 67 games – including six starts. He compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.72 ERA in 101.2 innings.

Nardi, a freshman left-hand pitcher from Royal High School was an outstanding reliever for Ventura in 2017. He had 14 appearances for the Pirates, 13 out of the bullpen, with a 1.17 ERA. He recorded 38 punch outs in 30.2 innings of work in 2017.

Minier has exhausted his eligibility at Washington, and will most-likely sign a contract with the White Sox organization.  Rubick signed with the University of Hawaii in the fall, and can transfer to the Warriors' program or sign with the Brewers. Nardi can report to the Yankees' organization or return to Ventura College as one of the main players of the 2018 Pirate pitching staff.