Over the numerous decades of baseball on the Hilltop, 84 Dons in total have had their name called on MLB draft day and 22 have played in the Major Leagues.
When Kyle Zimmer was selected fifth in the 2012 MLB Draft, it was the highest a Don was ever taken. Zimmer drew national attention and is just one of a number of former Diamond Dons that saw the dream of playing professional baseball realized.
Another joined this illustrious group in 2014 when Bradley Zimmer, the younger brother of Kyle, was selected in the first round by the Cleveland Indians, marking the fourth Don to be taken in the first round since 2008. Bradley since went on to make his Major League debut with the Indians on May 16, 2017.
Prior to Zimmer, the most recent former Don to see MLB action was left-hander Aaron Poreda, who went 2-1 in 26 appearances with the Texas Rangers in 2014. Poreda was also the first USF player to be selected in the first round when the White Sox took him 25th overall in 2007.
Infielder Gil McDougald put together the most prolific MLB career for a former USF ballplayer over a decade with the New York Yankees dynasty throughout the 1950s. McDougald, a San Francisco native who signed with the Bronx Bombers as a free agent in 1948, was the 1951 American League Rookie of the Year after hitting .306 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI. McDougald added five All-Star appearances (1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959) and finished as high as fifth in the MVP voting in 1957 while appearing in eight World Series.
Here is a look at how the Dons have fared historically in the MLB Draft:
Dons in the Draft
Data compiled from Baseball-Reference.com. Players in bold have appeared in MLB.
| PLAYER, POS. |
YEAR(S) DRAFTED |
TEAM |
ROUND (PICK) |
| Dominic Miroglio, C |
2017 |
Diamondbacks |
20 (592) |
|
2016 |
Rays |
16 (480) |
| Nico Giarratano, SS |
2017 |
Giants |
24 (726) |
| Allen Smoot, 3B |
2017 |
Rays |
40 (1,189) |
| Ryan Matranga, C |
2016 |
Giants |
36 (1,085) |
| Christian Cecilio, LHP |
2015 |
Padres |
22 (657) |
| Bradley Zimmer, OF |
2014 |
Indians |
1 (21) |
| Alex Balog, RHP |
2013 |
Rockies |
2 (70) |
| Adam Cimber, RHP |
2013 |
Padres |
9 (268) |
| Justin Maffei, OF |
2013 |
Pirates |
25 (749) |
| Kyle Zimmer, RHP |
2012 |
Royals |
1 (5) |
| Elliott Waterman, LHP |
2012 |
Nationals |
13 (414) |
| Jordan Remer, LHP |
2012 |
Reds |
21 (652) |
|
2011 |
Rangers |
25 (774) |
| Peter Lavin, OF |
2011 |
Phillies |
20 (631) |
| Doug Murray, RHP |
2010 |
White Sox |
19 (578) |
| Ryan Lipkin, C |
2010 |
Athletics |
24 (725) |
|
2009 |
Athletics |
43 (1,293) |
| Derek Poppert, SS |
2010 |
Mariners |
30 (912) |
|
2009 |
Reds |
28 (839) |
| Matthew Chavez, RHP |
2010 |
White Sox |
44 (1328) |
| Evan Frederickson, LHP |
2008 |
Brewers |
1* (35) |
| Joey Railey, INF |
2008 |
Padres |
21 (645) |
| Matt Baugh, LHP |
2008 |
Rockies |
29 (887) |
| Kyle Morgan, OF |
2008 |
Pirates |
36 (1,074) |
| Aaron Poreda, LHP |
2007 |
White Sox |
1 (25) |
| Daniel Morales, RHP |
2007 |
Indians |
14 (437) |
| Luke Sommer, OF |
2007 |
Cubs |
30 (907) |
| Brian Chavez, SS |
2007 |
Yankees |
32 (992) |
| John Quine, RHP |
2007 |
Athletics |
33 (1,017) |
| Scott Cousins, OF |
2006 |
Marlins |
3 (95) |
| Patrick McGuigan, RHP |
2006 |
Blue Jays |
27 (810) |
| Stefan Gartrell, OF |
2006 |
White Sox |
31 (945) |
| Nick Pereira, RHP |
2005 |
Giants |
10 (312) |
| T.J. Franco, RHP |
2005 |
Athletics |
30 (911) |
| Kevin Rose, RHP |
2004 |
Phillies |
23 (692) |
| Joseph Jacobitz, C |
2004 |
Mariners |
25 (753) |
| Armand Gaerlan, SS |
2004 |
Mets |
28 (824) |
| Derek Tate, LHP |
2004 |
Blue Jays |
34 (1,017) |
| Steve Booth, C |
2002 |
Reds |
9 (255) |
| Jesse Foppert, RHP |
2001 |
Giants |
2 (74) |
| Tagg Bozied, 1B |
2001 |
Padres |
3 (90) |
|
2000 |
Twins |
2 (42) |
| Jeramy Janz, OF |
2001 |
Diamondbacks |
32 (968) |
| Ian Perio, LHP |
2000 |
Red Sox |
14 (422) |
| Dan Trumble, OF |
2000 |
Giants |
25 (751) |
| John Herbert, RHP |
2000 |
Padres |
28 (829) |
| Dave Meliah, SS |
1998 |
Rangers |
17 (503) |
| Jermaine Clark, 2B |
1997 |
Mariners |
5 (163) |
| Matt Purkiss, 3B |
1997 |
Yankees |
16 (499) |
| Peter Quittner, OF |
1997 |
Angels |
34 (1,017) |
| Joe Nelson, RHP |
1996 |
Braves |
4 (122) |
| David Bernhard, RHP |
1996 |
Astros |
18 (534) |
| Jeff Harris, RHP |
1995 |
Twins |
28 (772) |
| John Tomasello, OF |
1992 |
Rangers |
12 (342) |
| Ted Langowski, 1B |
1991 |
Blue Jays |
34 (900) |
| Arnold Sambel, OF |
1990 |
Royals |
28 (765) |
|
1989 |
Royals |
36 (933) |
| Brian Dakin, C |
1990 |
Giants |
36 (969) |
| Jim West, C |
1990 |
Padres |
38 (1,017) |
| Mike Campas, OF |
1989 |
Cardinals |
25 (640) |
| Joe Williams, OF |
1987 |
Phillies |
32 (832) |
| Steve Berriatus, SS |
1987 |
Blue Jays |
38 (971) |
| Eric Enos, C |
1987 |
Phillies |
41 (1,036) |
| Doug Hupke, OF |
1987 |
Royals |
44 (1,082) |
| Raymond McDonald, 3B |
1986 |
Blue Jays |
32 (775) |
| Dave Sheldon, OF |
1985 |
White Sox |
14 (345) |
| Larry Arrington, C |
1984 |
White Sox |
33 (763) |
| John Hegwood, LHP |
1983 |
Blue Jays |
8 (188) |
| Bob Woodcock, 2B |
1982 |
Yankees |
47 (832) |
| Monico Corral, SS |
1981 |
Giants |
17 (425) |
| Kenneth Bullock, LHP |
1979 |
Dodgers |
16 (414) |
| Tom Lounibos, INF |
1978 |
Twins |
21 (529) |
| William Downing, SS |
1973 |
Braves |
4 (82) |
| Terrence Senn, 2B |
1972 |
Mets |
5 (100) |
|
1971 |
Dodgers |
12 (291) |
| Jude Tassone, 2B |
1972 |
Angels |
20 (465) |
| Dana Hendershott, LHP |
1971 |
Dodgers |
26 (610) |
| Allan Paganucci, RHP |
1970 |
White Sox |
24 (565) |
| Grant Steer, OF |
1969 |
Padres |
11 (264) |
| Gregory Sinclair, RHP |
1969 |
Padres |
16 (384) |
| Merritt Barnes, SS |
1968 |
Dodgers |
61 (903) |
| Fred Fegan, C |
1967 |
Giants |
3 (51) |
| Joseph Gill, OF |
1967 |
Yankees |
25 (476) |
| Carl Boyer |
1966 |
Mets |
Unavailable |
| Jim Beasley, C |
1965 |
Orioles |
Unavailable |
| Ray Gale, INF |
1965 |
Twins |
Unavailable |
| Roy Reitz, OF/1B |
1963 |
Giants |
Unavailable |
| Aaron Pointer, OF |
1960 |
Colt 45's |
Free Agent |
Kyle Zimmer
Bradley Zimmer
Jermaine Clark
Aaron Poreda
Gil McDougald
Jesse Foppert
Dons in Major League Baseball
Click on each player's name to view their MLB career stats on Baseball-Reference.com.
Jim Begley
Position: 2B
Years at USF: Early 1920s
Club(s): Cincinnati Reds (1924)
Mike Buskey
Position: SS
Windy McCall
Years at USF: 1968-71
Club(s): Philadelphia Phillies (1977)
Jake Caulfield
Position: SS
Years at USF: Early 1940s
Club(s): Philadelphia A's (1946)
Jermaine Clark
Position: INF
Years at USF: 1995-97
Club(s): Detroit Tigers (2001), Texas Rangers (2003), San Diego Padres (2003), Cincinnati Reds (2004), Oakland A's (2005)
Scott Cousins
Position: OF
Years at USF: 2004-06
Club(s): Florida/Miami Marlins (2010-12), Los Angeles Angels (2013)
Con Dempsey
Scott Cousins
Position: RHP
Years at USF: Mid 1940s
Club(s): Pittsburgh Pirates (1951)
Clarence Fieber
Position: LHP
Years at USF: Unavailable
Club(s): Chicago White Sox (1932)
Jesse Foppert
Position: RHP
Years at USF: 1999-2001
Club(s): San Francisco Giants (2003-05)
Joe Giannini
Position: SS
Years at USF: Early
Con Dempsey
1900s
Club(s): Boston Red Sox (1911)
Jeff Harris
Position: RHP
Years at USF: 1995
Club(s): Seattle Mariners (2005-06)
Stan Johnson
Position: OF
Years at USF: 1956
Club(s): Chicago White Sox (1960), Kansas City A's (1961)
Windy McCall
Position: LHP
Aaron Pointer
Years at USF: Mid 1940s
Club(s): Boston Red Sox (1948-49), Pittsburgh Pirates (1950), New York Giants (1954-57)
Gil McDougald
Position: INF
Years at USF: Late 1940s
Club(s): New York Yankees (1951-60)
Joe Nelson
Position: RHP
Years at USF: 1996
Club(s): Atlanta Braves (2001), Boston Red Sox (2004, 2010), Kansas City Royals (2006), Florida Marlins (2008), Tampa Bay Rays (2009)
Aaron Pointer
Position: OF
Years at USF: 1960
Club(s): Houston Colt 45's (1963, 1966-67)
Aaron Poreda
Position: LHP
Years at USF: 2005-07
Paul Schramka
Club(s): Chicago White Sox (2009), San Diego Padres (2009), Texas Rangers (2014)
Bill Renna
Position: OF
Years at USF: Early 1940s
Club(s): New York Yankees (1953), Philadelphia/Kansas City A's (1954-56), Boston Red Sox (1958-59)
Paul Schramka
Position: OF
Years at USF: 1946-49
Club(s): Chicago Cubs (1953)
Neill Sheridan
Position: OF
Years at USF: Unavailable
Club(s): Boston Red Sox (1948)
Justin Speier
Position: RHP
Years at USF: 1992-1993
Club(s): Chicago Cubs (1998), Florida Marlins (1998), Atlanta Braves (1999), Cleveland Indians (2000-01), Colorado Rockies (2001-03), Toronto Blue Jays (2004-06), Los Angeles Angels (2007-09)
Ernie Sulik
Position: OF
Years at USF: Unavailable
Club(s): Philadelphia Phillies (1936)
Bradley Zimmer
Position: OF
Years at USF: 2012-14
Club(s): Cleveland Indians (2017)
