When the 2011 College World Series gets underway this Saturday in Omaha, the Colorado Rockies will have three players to follow, having selected them in the 2011 MLB Draft. The highest-drafted player is ninth-rounder RHP Ross Stripling out of Texas A&M. He is 14-2 in 23 appearances (15 starts) with a 2.29 ERA. He's struck out 117 and walked just 17 in 117.2 innings. He works a low-90s fastball and complements it with a curveball and a changeup. He could wind up in the bullpen, but then that's what was said of Chad Bettis last year. He and the Aggies play defending CWS champion South Carolina on Sunday.
Sixteenth-round selection Florida 1B Preston Tucker delivered the Gators a spot in the College World Series with a key home run. The Rockies may need to pony up some money to sign him, but out of the three players in the CWS he may be the only one not to sign. He will play Saturday against Texas.
In the 25th round, the Rockies took North Carolina RHP Patrick Johnson. He's a senior so he's a sure thing to sign once the Tar Heels postseason finishes. Johnson has been the staff ace, going 13-1 with a 2.27 ERA. He's limited his opponents to 79 hits in 107 innings and has struck out 120 batters. His fastball barely reaches 90 mph, but his curveball-changeup work well.
Here is the complete schedule for the College World Series (via SB Nation). Check ESPN's schedule for which channels to catch the action or visit ESPN3.com to receive streaming coverage:
Bracket 1
Game 1: Vanderbilt vs. North Carolina, 12 p.m. MT, Saturday, June 18
Game 2: Florida vs. Texas, 5 p.m. MT, Saturday, June 18
Game 5: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 12 p.m. MT, Monday, June 20
Game 6: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 5 p.m. MT, Monday, June 20
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 5 p.m. MT, Wednesday, June 22
Game 11: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner, 12 p.m. MT, Friday, June 24
Game 13, if necessary: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 11 Loser, 12 p.m. MT, Saturday, June 25
Bracket 2
Game 3: Virginia vs. California, 12 p.m. MT, Sunday, June 19
Game 4: South Carolina vs. Texas A&M, 5 p.m. MT, Sunday, June 19
Game 7: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser, 12 p.m. MT, Tuesday, June 21
Game 8: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 5 p.m. MT, Tuesday, June 21
Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser, 5 p.m. MT, Thursday, June 23
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 12 p.m. MT, Friday, June 24
Game 14, if necessary: Game 12 Winner vs. Game 12 Loser, 5 p.m. MT, Saturday, June 25
Championship Series
Championship Game 1: Bracket 1 Champion vs. Bracket 2 Champion, 6 p.m. MT, Monday, June 27
Championship Game 2: Bracket 1 Champion vs. Bracket 2 Champion, 6 p.m. MT, Tuesday, June 28
Championship Game 3: Bracket 1 Champion vs. Bracket 2 Champion, 6 p.m. MT, Wednesday, June 29