Cameron Cannon, Red Sox (Round 2/43rd pick)
During his junior campaign in 2019, Cannon led the Wildcats and finished the regular season ranked second in the Pac-12 with a .397 batting average. Cannon had 71 runs, 92 hits, 29 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 56 RBIs, 151 total bases, 35 walks, a .651 slugging percentage, and a .478 on-base percentage.
At the time of his selection, his 29 doubles were the most among all Division I players in the country and the second-most recorded in a single season in Arizona history. Cannon finished the regular season ranked among the top 10 players in the Pac-12 in hits (first), doubles (first), batting average (second), runs (second), total bases (third), slugging percentage (fifth), on-base percentage (fifth), and RBI (tied for seventh).
Dreams coming true before our eyes!
Nick Quintana and Cameron Cannon heard their names called on the first day of the MLB Draft 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/JlZxWLxTts
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) June 4, 2019
Cannon led the Wildcats with 30 multiple-hit games and added 17 multi-RBI games. The big-hitting middle infielder also showed tremendous plate discipline throughout his Arizona career, drawing 21 more walks (81) than strikeouts (60) in his 147 games with Arizona.
He is the sixth-ever Arizona player selected by the Boston Red Sox, and the first since pitcher Rio Gomez in 2017. Cannon joins former Arizona players Gomez and Bobby Dalbec in the Red Sox organization.
With the 43rd pick of the 2019 #MLBDraft, the @RedSox select @ArizonaBaseball SS Cameron Cannon: https://t.co/OHooNdL3XW pic.twitter.com/yswBzNnPCg
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 4, 2019
He's headed to Boston!
Cameron Cannon has been selected by the @RedSox in the 2nd round of the #MLBDraft! #MLBTrainingGround | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/y8UqucnayJ
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) June 4, 2019
The #RedSox selected SS Cameron Cannon out of the University of Arizona with our first pick (2nd round, 43rd overall) in the 2019 #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/xZfnN1veBJ
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) June 4, 2019
Big time proud of Cameron Cannon. Special talent, great competitor, great Wildcat. Red Sox got better tonight. pic.twitter.com/oFd4eshIwi
— Jay Johnson (@UACoachJ) June 4, 2019
CAMERON CANNON LETS GO 😍 @CamCannon2 https://t.co/d9I77IYq8m
— Austin Wells (@wellsius16) June 4, 2019
Scout on Red Sox top pick: “Cameron Cannon will be a very quick mover. Polished bat. Fenway fans will see him and know him sooner than later.”
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 4, 2019
Cannon Cameron feels at home already with Red Sox, thanks to Bobby Dalbec – Boston Herald https://t.co/CMRG9YdgJQ pic.twitter.com/p1tSHBMvtB
— BuzzzBry (@buzzzbry) June 5, 2019
Nick Quintana, Tigers (Round 2/47th pick)
As a junior this season, Quintana posted career-best marks in batting average (.342), hits (76), runs (65), doubles (18), home runs (15), RBIs (77), total bases (139), walks (45), slugging percentage (.626), on-base percentage (.462), and fielding percentage (.921). At the end of the regular season, his 77 RBIs led the Pac-12 and ranked fifth among Division I players in the nation.
Quintana led the Wildcats with 23 multi-RBI games while also contributing 23 multi-hit performances. He finished the year riding a 15-game hit streak and earned the second Pac-12 Player of the Week selection of his career on May 6.
Big time proud of Nick Quintana. Great player, great teammate, great career at Arizona that went by way too fast. This guy is model of how to do it. Tigers got better tonight. pic.twitter.com/3VV1rsMsqf
— Jay Johnson (@UACoachJ) June 4, 2019
Over three seasons in Tucson, he logged 170 starts and manned third base for the Wildcats in 169 of those games. He wraps up his collegiate career with the fourth-most home runs in Arizona program history, having 35 since 2017.
He is the sixth-ever Arizona player selected by the Detroit Tigers, and the first since Ryan Perry in 2008. Cannon joins former Wildcat Brandon Dixon in the Tigers organization.
I’m ecstatic with the opportunity the @tigers have given me! Beyond grateful that they’ve put their trust and faith in me! I’m blessed to be able to continue this journey with such an amazing organization! I can’t wait to start and get to work!
— Q (@_Quintana13) June 5, 2019
To my friends and family, I couldn’t have accomplished my goals and dreams without you! I love you guys ! 🤘🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/DaDYRhPnbr
— Q (@_Quintana13) June 5, 2019
Flow goes to Detroit!
Nick Quintana has been selected by the Detroit @tigers in the 2nd round of the #MLBDraft! #MLBTrainingGround | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/4uzb0X2NdE
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) June 4, 2019
With the 47th pick of the 2019 #MLBDraft, the @Tigers select @ArizonaBaseball 3B Nick Quintana: https://t.co/OHooNdL3XW pic.twitter.com/8txVkJL81k
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 4, 2019
With pick No. 47 in the 2019 #MLBDraft, the #Tigers have selected 3B Nick Quintana from the University of Arizona. pic.twitter.com/dmIKJIAQPe
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 4, 2019
Matt Fraizer, Pirates (Round 3/95th pick)
Fraizer is the ninth Arizona player to ever be drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the first since Michael Flynn in 2018. Fraizer joins former Wildcats Kevin Newman, Jared Oliva, Flynn, and Ryan Haugh in the Pirates organization. Pittsburgh has now selected five Arizona players in the last six MLB Drafts.
— j (@JayFrazTV) June 4, 2019
Fraizer played in 19 games with the Wildcats as a junior this season before being sidelined due to injury. In his limited time this year, Fraizer posted a batting average of .412 (35-for-85) with 20 runs, six doubles, two triples, one home run, 28 RBIs, a .565 slugging percentage, and a .452 on-base percentage. At the time of his injury, he led the Wildcats with 28 RBIs, which matched his previous single-season high.
Over the course of three seasons in Tucson, Fraizer saw time in 106 games with 77 starts for the Cats. He notched a career batting average of .300 while tallying 57 runs and 60 RBIs.
Tucson ➡️ Steel City!
Congratulations to Matt Fraizer, selected by the Pittsburgh @Pirates in the 3rd round of the #MLBDraft! #MLBTrainingGround | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/xcZMpBL3qT
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) June 4, 2019
Pirates take Matt Fraizer in the 3rd round (95th overall) … CF from the University of Arizona. 6-3, 205. Dealt w/hamate bone injury this past season. Limited to 19 games but hit .412 and struck out just six times. Strong defensively. Gap-to-gap power. Very athletic.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) June 4, 2019
They call it #MLBTrainingGround for a reason.@ArizonaBaseball's Matt Fraizer is headed to the @Pirates in the 3rd round of the #MLBDraft! pic.twitter.com/yUN426oOmH
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) June 4, 2019
Avery Weems, White Sox (Round 6/170th pick)
Weems is the eighth Arizona player all-time to be selected by the Chicago White Sox, and the first since Travis Moniot in 2018.
The senior from Flagstaff pitched two seasons for the Wildcats, leading the team both years in appearances. This season, he worked 61 2/3 innings across 27 appearances (eight starts) with 47 strikeouts.
JUST IN: I was able to chat with former @YavapaiBaseball player @WeemsAvery1427 today after being drafted by the @whitesox in the 6th round. #MLBDraft2019 #CourierSports
READ: https://t.co/M6GXy2jxQk
— Brian M. Bergner Jr. (@TheEditorDesk) June 5, 2019
He logged his first career complete game on May 13 against Sam Houston State, allowing just three earned runs and striking out a career-high eight batters. The southpaw posted 10 outings without allowing an earned run and struck out multiple batters 11 times.
During his time with Arizona, Weems made 53 appearances and 17 starts. He registered a career ERA of 6.46 and struck out 86 batters.
Congrats to #Coconino alum @weemsavery1427 on being drafted in the sixth round of the @MLB draft! Fun to look back at the Avery Weems profile @NAUAlumni @BradenCarmen wrote for our #JLS328W sports features class a few years ago. https://t.co/cnM1IUNaME via @azds
— Rory Faust (@ProfFaust) June 5, 2019
Well it’s official…first player from my era as head baseball coach to be drafted! Congrats Avery Weems, 6th round pick by the White Sox! Proud of you young man! pic.twitter.com/99kPFRVwik
— Daniel Vander Valk (@CoachDVandy7) June 4, 2019
More Arizona players are expected to be selected during the final day of the MLB Draft on Wednesday. Rounds 11-40 are set to begin at 9 a.m.
Information from Arizona’s media relations department contributed to this report.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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