Orange Empire Conference baseball continues to make its case as the top junior college conference in the nation. 51 current and former CCCAA student-athletes have been selected in this year's MLB Draft with 16 of the 51 coming from the Orange Empire Conference. The Cypress College baseball program continues its success developing next level talent with 4 current/former players being selected in this year's MLB Draft.
Dylan Moore SS: 6'0, 194
Texas Rangers- Round: 7 Pick: 198
Dylan Moore attended El Dorado High School before joining the Chargers State Championship team as an infielder in 2013. Moore had a .273 AVG with 47 hits for the Chargers before transferring to Central Florida. Moore was selected to the 2015 American Athletic Conference First-Team and the 2015 Perfect Game Midseason All-America Team. While starting all 58 games at shortstop for the Knights, he maintained a .333 AVG, with 80 hits, and 45 RBI. Moore officially signed with the Rangers as of 6/12/15.
Matt Esparza RHP: 6'2, 195
Cleveland Indians- Round: 14 Pick: 424
Matt Esparza attended Redondo Union High School before joining the Chargers as a pitcher in 2014. Esparza was an All-Orange Empire Conference First-Team selection for Cypress in 2014. He went 5-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 70K in 63 innings pitched for the Chargers before transferring to UC Irvine. Esparza led the Big West with eight victories last season (8-2), to go along with a 3.39 ERA and 81K in 98.2 innings pitched. Esparza officially signed with the Indians as of 6/18/15.
Brad Hartong C: 6'5, 215
Minnesota Twins- Round: 29 Pick: 860
Brad Hartong attended Los Alamitos High School before joining the Chargers as a Catcher in 2012. Hartong was a 2012 Junior College Baseball All-American with a .380 AVG, 9 RBI, and 12 stolen bases before transferring to the University of Indiana. At Indiana Hartong was an All-Big Ten First-Team selection his junior season followed up with a .303 AVG and 70 hits his senior year. Hartong officially signed with the Twins as of 6/18/15.
Brandon Gonzalez CF: 6'0, 180
Milwaukee Brewers- Round: 37 Pick: 1,111
Brandon Gonzalez was a 3-year standout player at Villa Park High School and was selected in the 36th round of the MLB Draft by the Royals in 2014. Gonzalez chose not to sign with the Royals and passed up on numerous NCAA Division 1 offers to play at Cypress College. After sitting out last season for the Chargers as a medical red-shirt, Gonzalez has been selected again in this year's draft. Gonzalez has yet to make his decision on whether he will return to the Chargers for the 2015-16 season or sign on with the Brewers.
