2013 MLB Draft: Day 2 for the St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals had drafted players on Friday in rounds 3 through 10 of 2013 First-Year Player Draft.
June 8, 2012; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers outfielder Mason Katz (8) points to the LSU bench after hitting a home run in the 11th inning of game one of the Baton Rouge super regional at Alex Box Stadium. Image Credit: Crystal Logiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Round 3, Pick 93 RHP Mike Mayers, Mississippi
Mayers, 6’3”, 205 lb; finishes his Ole Miss career with a 12-9 record and a 3.43 ERA over 31 starts (53 app). He threw 171 strikeouts in 215 innings.

“Mike Mayers has been a tremendous pitcher for us over the last three years here at Ole Miss,” said Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco. “He’s got good command and is a three pitch guy with a fastball, slider and changeup. He’s a hard worker with an incredible work ethic.”

Round 4, Pick 125 2B Mason Katz, Louisana State
Katz led the SEC this past season in RBI (68); homers (15); and slugging percentage (.652). He ranked 2nd in total bases (150); 3rd in average (.378); & and 3rd in OBP (.467).

Entering the NCAA Super Regionals, Katz is hitting .343 with 32 home runs and 178 home runs.

“Mason is simply a ballplayer!” said LSU Baseball coach Paul Mainieri. “Period. You put him at any position and he’s going to do a good job for you. When he gets hot at the plate, he’s as clutch a hitter as anyone…with power! The Cardinals got a kid who will be a great ambassador for their organization, carry himself with class at all times, and will play his heart out for them. A very underrated athlete. Steal of the draft in my opinion.”

Round 5, Pick 155 LHP Ian McKinney, William Boone High School (FL)
A Central Florida committ, he went 7-1 in 2013 with a 1.25 ERA. He threw 66 strikeouts in 59 innings. He graduates from Boone as the all-time wins leader for left-handed pitchers with 21 wins while ranking 3rd all-time.

Round 6, Pick 185 LHP Jimmy Reed, Maryland
Reed, a six footer, was drafted in the 21st round last year by the New York Yankees but opted not to sign. This season, he went 6-4 with a 2.33 ERA. He pitched 88.2 innings and threw 74 strikeouts. He was a two-time ACC Pitcher of the Week in 2013;

“I think Jimmy’s very fortunate to get the opportunity to pitch for the Cardinals,” said first year Maryland baseball coach John Szfec. “I know that was a team he was really hoping would choose them. They have a very solid history with developing their minor league arms. I think that meant a lot to him. This is my first year at Maryland. He was drafted last year by the Yankees, decided to come back to school, and had a great summer at Cape Cod. He came back and was outstanding for us this year. He was the back to back ACC pitcher of the week at the end of the season and the second team ACC selection in what is thought to be the top college conference in America with 8 teams in the NCAA Tournament and 5 regional hosts. I would say that the Cardinals are getting a very mature guy, really good pitchability in terms of throwing strikes. He’s a polished star. He’s not the biggest most physical scary-looking guy but at the end of the day, he gets a lot of hitters out. He pitches pretty efficiently. He’s a good person. He’s gonna be a good person for that organization and I’m rooting for him.”

“Jimmy Reed is one of the toughest kids, hardest workers and best competitors in the game, said former Maryland coach Erik Bakich, now at Michigan. “He has made himself into an outstanding college pitcher and will find a way to get to the Big Leagues. He will be a tremendous asset for the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization.”

Round 7, Pick 215 SS Christopher Rivera, El Dorodo HS (Placencia, CA)
He batted .300 and was a 2013 Rawlings 1st-team California All-American. Rivera is a two-way player at El Dorado and hit up to 97 MPH as a pitcher. He batted .273 with four home runs and 21 stolen bases while posting a 1.90 ERA on the mound his senior season.

“I think the Cardinals are getting an outstanding player and an outstanding young man in Chris Rivera,” EDHS baseball coach Matt Lucas said. “He is a hard-working kid who is 1st on the field and last off. He is a great athlete who I believe has the ability to make the big leagues at 3 different positions, at SS, C, and as a RHP. Chris is a tremendous defender and is also someone who I feel is a bit underrated with the bat. The Cardinals are getting a good one, and I know Chris is extremely excited to be a Cardinal.”

Round 8, Pick 245 RHP Andrew Pierce, Southern Mississippi
Pierce was 9-2 this season with a 2.57 ERA. He struck out 98 batters in 112 innings pitched with 4 complete games. He was named to the First-team All-Conference USA, and ranked 4th in the league for strikeouts.

“I am very happy for Andrew,” Southern Miss coach Scott Berry said. “He certainly has earned this opportunity to extend his playing career in professional baseball. He defines the word pitching in his ability to compete on the mound in any given situation.”

“I am very excited for Andrew, said Jones County Junior College coach Christian Ostrander. “Well deserved. For 4 years Andrew has had a strike out to walk ratio almost 10 to 1. He is a fierce competitor who has the calmest demeanor I have ever seen. He is a first class individual and will represent the Cardinals well.”

Round 9, Pick 275 RHP Nick Petree, Missouri State
Petree finished his career with a 27-7 record and a 1.76 ERA. In 311.1 innings, he threw 306 strikeouts. He was honored as the Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger National Player of the Year in 2012.

“He’s a winner with a great feel for pitching,” Missoui State head coach Keith Guttin said.

Round 10, Pick 305 SS Malik Collymore, Port Credit Secondary School (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada).

“I had the opportunity to coach Malik for one year in 2009 as a member of our varsity boys baseball team (grades 9 through 12 were represented),” said former coach Jeffrey Wells. “We have not had a baseball team since that year. He was a grade 9 student then and had considerable talent. He was on the starting lineup as a second basemen or shortstop and even stepped in to pitch if necessary. His success is a result of the commitment he had to his rep/elite level training.”