Arizona Wildcats right-hander Cody Deason was selected by the Houston Astros in the fifth round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday.
The junior was the No. 162 overall pick. The signing bonus slot value for that selection is $306,100, according to MLB.com.
Deason was UA’s ace this season, posting a 2.87 ERA in 91 innings. The 6-foot-3 Ojai, California native struck out 84 batters.
Here is what Baseball America has to say about him:
Despite his success as a starter this year, Deason is viewed by most talent evaluators as a likely reliever in pro ball. His delivery has effort, and while he has a four-pitch mix, he is most effective when using his fastball/curveball combo. Deason’s average fastball sits in the low 90s, touching 94-95 mph. His best out pitch and most consistent offering is a 12-to-6 curveball that he can really spin. Deason is expected to go off the board early on Day 2 of the draft.
Deason has a year of eligibility left, so he can still return to Arizona if he wants.