FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas third baseman Matt Reynolds wasn’t taken in the Major League Baseball Draft out of high school in 2009.
So there’s no doubt the Tulsa native enjoyed the moment three years later when he became a second-round pick Tuesday afternoon.
“It was definitely one of the best feelings I’ve had in my baseball career,” Reynolds said Tuesday night. “It’s a special feeling because I put in all this hard work and it’s finally paid off.”
Reynolds was the first Arkansas player taken in the 2012 MLB Draft after being pulled off the board by the New York Mets with the 71st overall pick in Tuesday’s second round. He was soon joined by Arkansas pitcher Nolan Sanburn, who was taken by the Oakland Athletics with the 74th pick. And pitcher D.J. Baxendale was selected in the 10th round (No. 310) by the Minnesota Twins.
The three-day draft, which began Monday night, will conclude with Rounds 16 through 40 today.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Reynolds was rewarded thanks to an impressive junior season in which he leads the Razorbacks in most offensive categories. He’s hitting a team-high .343 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs entering this week’s Waco Super Regional against Baylor.
The success came after two injury-plagued seasons. He hit a combined .233 with four home runs and 27 RBIs as a freshman and sophomore. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said Reynolds hard work — and improved health — started paying off last summer.
“You could start seeing at the end of his sophomore year how good he could be. Then he took off this year,” Van Horn said. “He had a great summer last summer with Team USA, then in the Cape Cod League and has not slowed down a bit.”
Reynolds became the third Arkansas third baseman to be selected in the top two rounds of the draft the past five years. Logan Forsythe was a first-round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. Zack Cox was selected in the first round in 2010.
The pick means Reynolds is almost assured of playing his final game with the Razorbacks this month. So his only goal is making sure it happens in Omaha during the College World Series.
“I had a great year,” Reynolds said. “I felt like I accomplished what I wanted. There’s still some business now we need to finish as a team.
“But, personally, I think I did a pretty good job in taking care of the part I needed to do.”
Sanburn was selected in the second round after being regarded as a prime prospect because of his potential as a hard-throwing pitcher.
He was rated as the No. 44 prospect in the draft by MLB.com and No. 55 by Baseball America.
“It’s really a dream come true,” said Sanburn, who was a catcher, outfielder and pitcher when he arrived at Arkansas. “I came in here doing everything. Finishing as a pitcher, this is just my future and I’m so blessed and so fortunate.”
The draft-eligible sophomore, who is 4-1 with a 2.58 ERA, turned in one of his best performances of the season just before the draft. Sanburn threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the regional final against Sam Houston State on Sunday night.
“He’s a raw pitcher with a great arm,” Van Horn said. “I told him when we took him out (Sunday) he gave us what we wanted him to give us – just a couple of innings. Get us to the next pitcher. That was the best I had seen him pitch all year.”
Sanburn, too, will likely head off to begin a pro baseball career after the season ends.
So will Baxendale, who is 17-8 with a 2.57 ERA in three seasons with the Razorbacks. The junior will start Saturday’s Waco Super Regional opener.
“It was a lot of excitement,” Baxendale said. “Waiting all day and then finally hearing my name called was just one of the greatest feelings.
In addition to the three current Razorbacks, five Arkansas signees were selected Tuesday.
The group includes: pitcher Teddy Stankiewicz (New York Mets, second round, No. 75), outfielder D’vone McClure (Cleveland, fourth round, No. 143), pitcher Ty Buttrey (Boston, fourth round, No. 151), pitcher Colin Poche (Baltimore, fifth round, No. 162) and outfielder Shilo McCall (San Francisco, ninth round, No. 298).
The biggest surprise of the group was Buttrey, who fell despite being projected as a top 40 prospect by Baseball America and MLB.com.
Van Horn said the drop gives Arkansas plenty of hope Buttrey can make it to campus next fall. Drafted players have until July 13 to sign.
“I think we’ve got a real good shot at keeping him,” Van Horn said. “He’s had a bunch of phone calls from pro people and his (signing bonus) number is too high. He’s got a tremendous arm and he’s big and he’s smart. So, we’re excited about that. Hopefully that’ll pay off.”
Van Horn would feel even better if the Razorbacks con convince McClure and Baxendale to come to campus to help Arkansas’ offense. Baxendale, at least, said via Twitter he was “so ready to be wearing that uniform next year” after not being selected through 15 rounds Tuesday.
“I sure would like to have them because they can flat-out hit,” Van Horn said. “You know how tough it is to get hitters in college baseball these days. … We desperately want them.”
In-state signees
(Round/pick, drafting team, name, position, school)
2/71, Mets, Matt Reynolds, 3B, Arkansas
2/74, Athletics, Nolan Sanburn, RHP, Arkansas
4/143, Indians, D’vone McClure, CF, Jacksonville HS
9/293, Indians, Jacob Lee, RHP, Arkansas State
10/310, Twins, D.J. Baxendale, RHP, Arkansas
12/371, Mariners, Michael Faulkner, CF, Arkansas State