Shorewood, EvCC alum chosen by Rays in 8th round of MLB draft
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Former Everett Community College pitcher Riley O’Brien, a Shorewood High School alumnus, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball draft on Tuesday. He was the 229th overall pick.
O’Brien graduated from Shorewood in 2013 and played two seasons for the Trojans before transferring to the College of Idaho, where he has pitched the last two seasons. O’Brien is the highest draft pick in College of Idaho program history.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-hander posted a 2.15 earned-run average in 67 innings pitched this spring, striking out 81 batters and walking 23 while helping the Coyotes to the regional round of the NAIA national championships. O’Brien primarily worked out of the bullpen during the regular season, but joined the starting rotation for College of Idaho’s playoff run.
O’Brien made only 10 appearances in his two seasons with EvCC, posting an overall 5.32 ERA.
The Rays organization already includes at least two players with local ties. Steven Souza Jr., a Cascade High School alum, is Tampa Bay’s starting right fielder. Blake Snell, a Shorewood alum, has split time this season between Tampa Bay and Triple-A affiliate Durham.
