The Colorado Rockies went local with its 16th round pick of the 2012 MLB Draft, taking Colorado Mesa (previously known as Mesa State) outfielder Jeff Popick with the 498th overall pick. He was announced as a left fielder.
Popick was a senior selection after going undrafted after his junior year. At the Division II level, Popick hit .424/.524/.663 with 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 65 RBI this spring. He's an athletic 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds and certainly could be a diamond in the rough.
The Rockies could send Popick to the Tri-City Dust Devils, but putting the local kid at the new Grand Junction Rockies affiliate might turn into the better option. The outfield in Grand Junction is going to be crowded with younger outfielders, however. College players usually skip Grand Junction and head to Tri-City after being drafted.
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