OREM — Mountain View High School southpaw Willy Newton was selected Tuesday afternoon in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball draft, the 504th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox.
Newton, who had an earned-run-average of 1.13 his senior season to go with 142 strikeouts in leading the Bruins to the Region 7 title and state semifinals, has signed to play for Salt Lake Community College next season. He said Tuesday that he will decide in the next few weeks whether to sign with the Red Sox or play a year of college. He plans to meet with Boston officials later in the week.
"They haven't put a price out there for me to consider yet," Newton said.
Unlike major college players who are committed for three years, junior college players can be drafted again after one season.
"If the money is enough, I'll sign; otherwise I'll go play college for a year and try to improve my worth for next year's draft," he said.
Also, Jason Snyder, the 2001 Class 5A MVP from Alta High, was also selected in the 17th round by the Seattle Mariners. Snyder, who played one year at the University of Arizona, was currently enrolled at Dixie State College.
He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals two years ago.