Bountiful High pitching star Matt Gleason was taken in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft that was held Tuesday.
OK, so he didn't actually go in the first round of the entire draft. That big-bucks opportunity happened on Monday, as did the first 20 rounds of the draft. But Gleason can skip that minor detail when he tells his grandkids this story.Gleason was one of the first players selected on Day 2, though. The Braves' talented pitcher was chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round -- the 634th player taken overall. He was the first of four Utah prep products -- all right-handed pitchers -- to go in the draft on the second and final day.
As expected, Scott Koffman was the next Utahn picked up. The Olympus High ace was taken in the 27th round (804th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles. Following him was Jentry Beckstead, a 1998 graduate of Alta High who has played for Salt Lake Community College. Beckstead was chosen by the Colorado Rockies with the 1,127th pick in the 38th round.
Kearns High's Shane Reedy was the final Beehive State standout to have his name put up on the draft board. The Cougar hurler was pick No. 1,428 in the 49th of 50 rounds, and he also went to the Rangers.
Reedy was the fourth Utahn selected by Texas, which on Monday grabbed Uintah High pitcher AJ Murray in the 19th round and former Utah prep Brandon Pack of the University of South Carolina via Cottonwood and Bingham in the 12th round.
Davis High sensation Jeff Tibbs, the Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year for Utah, was the first local player to be drafted on Monday. The cannon-armed righty went in the third round to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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