2 USC signees taken on draft's first day

Chris Owings’ rapid rise up Major League Baseball’s draft charts culminated Tuesday night with his first round, supplemental selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Gilbert High shortstop and USC signee was picked No. 41 overall in the first-year player draft. Surrounded by family and a handful of his high school teammates at his home, Owings was delighted when the news was broadcast on MLB.com.

“Everybody was excited. I was pumped. We were jumping up and down,” said Owings, who admitted to a case of the nerves before and during the draft.

Owings was the highest pick among players with USC connections.

Fellow incoming freshman and catcher/third baseman Will Myers of High Point, N.C., was picked in the third round by the Kansas City Royals with the No. 91 selection overall. That is much lower than he was projected. Myers was rated No. 31 nationally by Baseball America magazine.

A bigger surprise involved current USC pitcher Sam Dyson, who was expected to go no later than the second round. The redshirt sophomore, who was ranked No. 38 by Baseball America, was not chosen in the three rounds held Tuesday.

Owings, a five-year all-area player for the Indians, moved up draft boards the past two months. He worked out for eight teams the past three weeks, including with the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix.

“I knew they had a lot of interest in me. I had a good workout there,” said Owings, the fourth player chosen by Arizona in the draft.

Rated No. 84 nationally by Baseball America, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound infielder continued to impress scouts even after his high school season ended. The slick fielder, who led Gilbert to Class 2A state championships in 2006 and 2008, batted .400 with five homers, 20 RBIs and 22 stolen bases his senior season. He credited the growing interest in him to “hard work.”

“I made some adjustments at the plate. I hit the weights hard,” he said.

Scouts liked Owings’ above-average speed, his solid defensive skills and his line-drive hitting stroke. Most of all, they liked his approach to the game.

“He’s got a great makeup. He’s a leader on the field. This is a good selection for (the Diamondbacks),” said Frank Marcos of the Major League Scouting Bureau in his draft analysis on MLB.com.

Owings can expect to receive a significant signing bonus. Last season’s No. 41 pick, Vanderbilt shortstop Ryan Flaherty, signed for $1.5 million.

Leading up to the draft, his father, John Owings, said they had put out a figure to teams of what it would take to sign his son. He did not disclose the figure. New York-based ACES, one of the largest agencies to represent baseball players, is serving as advisers to the family.

“We’ll just enjoy it tonight, and we’ll deal with the other aspects later,” John Owings said.

Rounds four through 30 will be held today, with the final 20 rounds Thursday. Other USC players that may be picked today include catcher Justin Dalles, outfielder DeAngelo Mack and first baseman Nick Ebert.

The 6-3, 185-pound Myers is considered an excellent hitter with the ability to play several positions. Myers, who hit .532 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs as a senior at Wesleyan Christian Academy, likely would be penciled in as a starter at USC campus.

Last season’s No. 91 pick received $423,000, which may not be enough to keep him from joining the Gamecocks — unless the Royals tender an offer well above the money normally designated for that slot.

The hard-throwing Dyson, who redshirted his freshman season due to surgery on a torn labrum in his shoulder, has gone 17-4 with 138 strikeouts in 152 2/3 innings. The 6-2, 195-pounder, who was rated the No. 38 prospect nationally by Baseball America, threw his fastball consistently in the mid-90s throughout the season.