Northern Nevada players taken in draft

The University of Nevada didn't take that big of a hit on the first day of the Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.

Two players who Nevada expected to lose to the draft were picked on Tuesday in Brett Hayes and Jacob Butler. Another player that Nevada will have to play the waiting game on is Wooster High's Jake Rasner, who was also taken.

But two players Nevada players who could return to the Wolf Pack next season - Ben Mummy and Robert Marcial - went undrafted in the first 15 rounds on Tuesday as did Spanish Springs' Steve Masten, who has signed with the school.

Hayes, a junior, was the 79th overall pick in the draft, taken between the second and third rounds by the Florida Marlins. Hayes was drafted as a catcher and was also used as a third baseman, shortstop and outfielder while he played with the Wolf Pack. He was an all-Western Athletic Conference outfielder all three years at Nevada.

As the 79th pick, Hayes should be able to command a signing bonus of at least $500,000, so it's virtually certain that he'll sign.

Butler, who just completed his senior year and career at Nevada, was taken in the eighth round, the 236th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. The outfielder was also an all-WAC first team pick. Butler could command a signing bonus of at least $100,000.

Rasner, who signed with Nevada, was taken in the seventh round, the 219th overall pick by the Texas Rangers. Rasner was hoping to receive a signing bonus of at least $250,000, an amount that seventh round draft choices don't normally receive.

But for the Rangers to take Rasner as high as the seventh round, they are likely willing to make him an offer he would be willing to take. Rasner, a righthanded pitcher, was the Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year this past season.

Masten, considered to be Northern Nevada's other top pitcher along with Rasner, was also hoping for a signing bonus of at least $250,000. But "signability" apparently became an issue as Masten went undrafted on Tuesday, so it's likely he'll be heading to Nevada.

Marcial, Nevada's starting shortstop, and Mummy, Nevada's starting first baseman, are both juniors. They both went undrafted on Tuesday as well. Their futures are still up in the air heading into today's final day of the draft.

The final 35 rounds of the 50-round draft will be held today.