Gophers

Thirteen Minnesotans taken on third day of MLB draft

June 7, 2018 at 12:33PM

Ryan Tapani, the son of former Twins pitcher Kevin Tapani, was taken Wednesday by the Washington Nationals in the 21st round of baseball's amateur draft.

Tapani pitched last season for Creighton after spending two years at St. Olaf in Northfield. He played high school baseball at Providence Academy.

Others with Minnesota connections taken on the draft's final day include:

Gus Varland of Concordia University was taken in the 14th round by Oakland. Varland, a junior pitcher, had a 7-3 record and 3.27 ERA for the Golden Bears. He played for North St. Paul High School.

Jacob Rhinesmith of Western Kentucky was taken in the 18th round by Washington. The All-Conference USA outfielder played high school baseball at Shakopee.

Dalton Roach of Minnesota State Mankato was taken in the 21st round by Houston. Roach was 8-2 with a 3.30 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 71 innings for the Mavericks this season. He is from Eau Claire.

Kellen Rholl of Angelo State was taken in the 25th round by Cleveland. Rholl, a relief pitcher, played high school baseball at Mounds View.

Zach Seipel of Minnesota-Crookston was taken in the 27th round by Atlanta. Seipel was a catcher at Eagan before being converted to a pitcher at UMC.

Gophers infielder Micah Coffey was drafted in the 30th round, No. 888, by the White Sox and Heritage Christian Academy's Seth Halvorsen was drafted 16 picks later by the Twins. Halvorsen, a senior, is a righthanded pitcher for the Eagles who hit 96 mph during an all-star event last August.

In the 35th round, Miami selected Gophers senior righthander Jackson Rose.

Blaine graduate Tyler Reichenborn, an outfielder now of Iowa Western Community College, was also taken in the 35th round by the Dodgers. The Brewers selected North Iowa Area Community College lefty Brandon Williamson, who played high school at Martin County West, in the 36th round.

Milwaukee also selected Rosemount senior righthander Aiden Maldonado in the 38th round with pick No. 1,145 - six picks after the Rangers took Gophers pitcher Reggie Meyer.

Others with Minnesota connections, including Jordan Kozicky of the Gophers, were not selected

Terrin Vavra, the Gophers' All-America shortstop, was taken in the third round by Colorado. Luke Becker, an infielder from Fairmont who played at Kentucky, was taken in the ninth round by San Diego.

To get an updated list of Twins draft picks, click here.

The full list of Minnesotans is here.