NCAA Baseball: Six Baylor Bears Selected in 2010 First-Year Player Draft

Three days of Major League Baseball Draft picks—or 50 rounds—resulted in the selection of six Baylor Bears with the possibility of landing a future job in America’s Pastime.

Below is a list of the former green and gold-donning baseball players who will be heading to MLB farm systems nationwide, with the hopes and dreams of climbing the minor league ladder and making the jump to the majors.

Along with where they were selected in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, a brief synopsis will also be included with some of their key stats at Baylor University—as they aim to take the next step into the next level…

San Francisco Giants, No. 438—Raynor Campbell, IF, Senior

Infielder Raynor Campbell was selected by the San Francisco Giants with pick No. 438 in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

Campbell, who was a 2009 MLB Draft Pick with the Cleveland Indians (31st round), returned to Baylor for his senior season en route to a 36-24 overall record.

In 2010 with the Baylor Bears, Campbell held a .335 batting average with 15 doubles, seven home runs, and 41 runs batted in.

Career honors include: 2008 All-Cape Cod League, 2008 Cape Cod League All-Star, 2007 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American (Collegiate Baseball), 2007 Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year (DMN, WTH), 2007 First-Team All-Big 12 Conference (DMN), 2007 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conferences (coaches), and a two-time recipient of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2006, Spring 2009).

Philadelphia Phillies, No. 501—Craig Fritsch, RHP, Senior

The Philadelphia Phillies chose right-handed pitcher Craig Fritsch with pick No. 501 in Major League Baseball’s 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

A 2009 MLB Draft Pick with the Detroit Tigers (8th round), Fritsch returned to Waco for his senior season and helped propel Baylor to the Fort Worth regionals championship game before bowing-out to TCU.

Fritsch posted a 3.68 ERA in 2010 with the Baylor Bears, appearing in 19 games (starting eight) while going 2-4 overall. He also garnered 64 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched.

Career honors include: 2009 Big 12 Conference All-Championship Team, 2009 Baseball America No. 37 MLB Draft Prospect (college), 2008 Baseball America No. 18 Cape Cod League Prospect, 2008 Cape Cod League All-Star, 2008 Fall Semester Baylor Award for Academic Excellence, 2007 Baseball America No. 4 Northwoods League Prospect, 2007 Perfect Game Crosschecker No. 10 Northwoods League Prospect, 2007 Northwoods League All-Star, and a two-time recipient of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2008, Fall 2009).

Chicago Cubs, No. 550—Ronald Pinckard, RHP, Junior

Ronald Pinckard (or Brooks Pinckard for Baylor fans that may be confused), a right-handed pitcher, was taken by the Chicago Cubs with selection No. 550 in this summer’s MLB Draft.

Pinckard, who just finished his junior season with Baylor, will have some major decisions to make in the coming days about whether to turn pro or return for another year of college baseball.

In 2010 as a member of the Baylor Bears baseball team, Pinckard made 23 appearances—going 2-4 overall with a 2.45 ERA. He also had 12 saves while pitching 33 innings the entire season.

In addition, Pinckard is also a good batter with a tremendous amount of plate patience—as the young righty batted .305 this past season with Baylor, with 12 doubles, six triples, and two home runs.

Career honors include: 2009 Second-Team Academic All-Big 12, along with being a two-time recipient of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2008, Spring 2009).

Florida Marlins, No. 737—Greggory Glime, C, Senior

With pick No. 737 in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, the Florida Marlins selected catcher Greggory Glime.

Gregg Glime (as Bears fans know him) was both the 2009 and 2010 Baylor Captain and he enters the Florida Marlins farm system with four solid years of college baseball under his belt.

And at 6’0” and 210 lbs, Glime should be able to make that climb to the majors.

Glime garnered a .248 batting average in 2010 with the Baylor Bears by hitting 12 doubles, eight home runs, and two triples. He also had 43 runs driven in while walking 23 times.

Career honors include: 2008 Spring Semester Baylor Award for Academic Excellence, as well as being a two-time recipient of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Spring 2008, Fall 2009).

Atlanta Braves, No. 824—William Kempf, RHP, Senior

Right-handed pitcher William Kempf was selected by the Atlanta Braves with pick No. 824 in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

Willie Kempf (once again, as Baylor fans knew him) was also the 2009 and 2010 Baylor Captain along with teammate Glime.

In 2010 with Baylor, Kempf was the team’s ace—going 9-2 overall (in 22 appearances and 12 games started) with a 3.02 ERA. Kempf also struck out 80 batters while garnering one save over 83.1 innings pitched.

Career honors include: 2009 Fall Dean’s List, 2008 Cape Cod League All-Star, along with being a seven-time recipient of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2006-2009, Spring 2007-2009).

Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 922—Shawn Tolleson, RHP, Senior

The Los Angeles Dodgers nabbed right-handed pitcher Shawn Tolleson with pick No. 922 in this summer’s MLB Draft.

And Tolleson has been a solid righty for four straight years with the Baylor Bears.

Tolleson had a rather high ERA (5.17) this season with Baylor, but he’s also got great potential in terms of becoming a pitcher in the majors. Over 76.2 innings pitched for the Bears in 2010, Tolleson picked up 84 strikeouts while walking just 29.

Career honors include: 2009 Baseball America No. 23 MLB Draft Prospect (college), 2008 Baseball America No. 15 Cape Cod League Prospect, 2008 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 Conference (coaches), 2008 First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Conference, 2008 Ted Lyons Baylor Most Valuable Player Award, 2008 College Baseball Foundation National All-Star Lineup (March 18), 2008 Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week (March 17), and a five-time recipient of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2007-2008, Spring 2007-2009).

2010 MLB Draft Rewind: Baylor Bears Baseball in Future of the Majors

So, who out of this group of six will be the first to get that anticipated call-up to the pros?

Only time will tell, but at least the Baylor Bears are continuing to pump lots of talent—particularly in pitching—into Major League Baseball.

With the baseball team compiling a 36-24 record in 2010—along with a bid and trip to the regionals of the College World Series, plus six players drafted in this summer’s MLB Draft—the Bears have a lot to be proud of, as well as a lot to build upon.

Coach Steve Smith, who just completed his 16th season at the helm of Baylor baseball, has always been a wonderful recruiter—especially in terms of pitching talent.

And with five pitchers selected in Major League Baseball’s 2010 First-Year Player Draft, it just goes to prove that Smith continues to find an incredible mound talent year after year.

Hopefully that trend will continue.

Not only in terms of the Bears continuing to pump players into the majors, but also in Baylor continuing to thrive in college baseball.

With all the Big 12 breakup talk going on, the Bears future in the conference appears dim at best.

But regardless of where Baylor lands, they must continue doing what they’ve been doing thus far in the Big 12:

Whatever it takes to compete and win.

Who knows? Maybe a change will turn the Bears into a conference power-house.

Baylor’s already damn good in numerous sports in the Big 12—including consistent competition in baseball and basketball—and pushing them into a weaker conference is not the answer to everyone’s problem.

Where the Bears will land in this ongoing board game of "Conference Expansion Candy Land" has yet to be seen, but for now Baylor fans can at least take pride in their baseball team.

A baseball team that saw six players selected in the 2010 MLB Draft…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]