With the 20th pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, the Colorado Rockies selected Oregon pitcher Tyler Anderson, the fourth Pac-10 pitcher taken in the first round. It's been a banner day for the conference as UCLA's Gerrit Cole came off the board at No. 1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, followed by teammate Trevor Bauer at No. 3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Anderson was first drafted in 2008, when the Minnesota Twins took him in the 50th, and final, round of the MLB Draft.
Anderson is a milestone pick for the Ducks, who revived their baseball program from the dead in 2009. Anderson helped with the team's quick turnaround as the Ducks have boosted their win total to 40 in 2010 after winning just 14 games in the program's first year of existence.
The Oregonian's Aaron Fentress had the rundown of Anderson and the significance of the pick, which is the first time a duck has been chose in the first round since 1972.
The left-handed pitcher, who last season went 8-3 with a 2.17 ERA, could very well become the first Duck selected in the first round of the draft since 1972. That year, San Diego chose Dave Roberts first overall. The utility player played 10 years in the big leagues, six with the Padres, batting .239 with 49 home runs.
Anderson becomes the eighth player from the Oregon baseball program to be selected in the MLB Draft since 2009, as well.
We'll be tracking the day's events and will have more on the Mariners' pick in our 2011 MLB Draft StoryStream. For more on the Rockies, head over to SB Nation Denver. For a local look at what the Mariners are planning, head over to SB Nation's Lookout Landing.