MLB Draft: 4 Arizona Wildcats Players Selected

TUCSON, AZ — It took 70 picks, but the University of Arizona saw its first local picked in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Ryan Holgate, who helped guide the Wildcats to the program's first College World Series appearance in five years this spring, was picked 70th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Holgate, who was a Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2021, hit a career-best .351 in 2021, with 11 home runs and 56 RBIs in 63 games played.

The Davis, Calif., native was a key contributor for a Wildcats squad that captured its first Pac-12 regular season title in nine years.

Holgate entered the draft process ranked as the No. 105 prospect, according to MLB.com, and as the second-best Arizona-based prospect in the draft, according to Baseball America.

The slot value for Holgate at No. 70 is $906,800, according to MLB.com.

Twelve picks later, Holgate's teammate, in outfielder Branden Boissiere, was selected by the Washington Nationals.

Boissiere entered the draft as the 159th ranked prospect on MLB.com's list, after hitting .369 with 63 RBIs, 12 doubles, four triples and 69 runs scored in 63 games played in 2021.

Boissiere has a slot value of $744,200, according to MLB.com's bonus pool tracker.

The third member of the Wildcats' CWS squad to hear his name called on Monday was outfielder Donta Williams.

Williams, who hit .374 with 8 homers and 49 RBIs in 2021, was picked 106th overall by the Baltimore Orioles.

The slot value for Williams' pick spot is $549,000, according to MLB.com.

Southpaw reliever Gil Luna was picked by the Chicago White Sox in the draft's ninth round, becoming the fourth Wildcat to hear their name called during the 20-round event.

Luna finished the 2021 season with a 1.69 ERA across 14 appearances, striking out 31 batters across 21 1/3 innings pitched.

Luna's draft bonus slot value is $152,000, according to MLB.com.