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With the No. 40 pick in the draft, the Rays selected right-handed pitcher Michael Mercado from Westview High School (California).
He is committed to Stanford, a difficult commitment for professional teams to try and break.
The righty has not been featured prominently on the showcase circuit, so he may have a fresh arm. He says he wants to play professionally, and for the Rays to take him on Day 1, they probably know what it will take to sign him.
In his senior season, Mercado posted video-game stats, as many top high school pitchers do. He struck out 97 and allowed just 29 hits and 17 walks in 70 2/3 innings.
Baseball America ($) published a nice feature on Mercado and all of the influences in his life that have helped his development on the field.
Mercado comes from an athletic family. His parents both played collegiate tennis, and his younger sister has played on a junior Team USA national soccer team.