Posted: May 30, 2022

Nine PBL Draft Picks Make Opening Day Rosters

By: Mathias Altman-Kurosaki, Syracuse University Graduate Student '22

After showing off for scouts at a tryout in Tucson, Arizona, nine of the 23 players selected in the Pioneer League Draft made their respective opening-day rosters.

First-overall pick Reid Johnson started the opener for the Glacier Range Riders, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out three batters in the team’s 15-1 rout over the Rocky Mountain Vibes. The six-foot-seven-inch righty hails from Frederick, CO, and attended Salt Lake Community College this past year.

Second-overall pick Chase Wilkerson made the cut for the Northern Colorado Owlz, and the southpaw will be joined by outfielder Euro Diaz, who was selected 19th. A native of Headland, AL, Wilkerson pitched for the University of West Florida Argonauts, striking out 31 batters in 27.2 innings (16 appearances) and recording one save this past season. Wilkerson pitched an inning in Wednesday night’s game, allowing three earned runs and striking out two. Diaz comes from Pasadena, TX, and played collegiately at Angelina College of Texas, and also attended Southwestern Assemblies of God University and Shawnee State University before this year. Diaz drew a walk and drove in a run in six plate appearances on Wednesday.

The Vibes are bringing third-overall pick Caleb Marquez and 18th pick Domonique Hernandez on board this season, and both played in the team’s season opener. Marquez was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 39th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Blue Springs High School in Missouri. Marquez appeared in 33 games for the Brewers’ Rookie Ball team, playing catcher and first base. Hernandez meanwhile is from Ridgecrest, CA and played two seasons for Missouri Baptist University, being used both as an outfielder and a relief pitcher. Both players off to nice starts –– Marquez has gone 3-for-11 with two homers and three RBIs, while Hernandez is 6-for-10 with two RBIs.

Fifth-overall pick Kenny Stewart has made the Billing Mustangs’ roster. The 24-year-old righty hails from San Diego, CA, and pitched in three seasons for Mayville State University. Stewart worked exclusively as a reliever for the Comets, and he was fantastic in 2021, recording a 1.01 ERA with 64 strikeouts and seven saves in 44.2 innings.

Righty Montana Quigley made the cut for the Great Falls Voyagers after getting taken with the 17th pick. The Lake Forest, CA native attended El Toro High School, the same school that produced Nolan Arenado and Matt Chapman. Quigley played four seasons at Valparaiso University, where he worked primarily as a reliever. In Wednesday’s opener, Quigley struck out four batters in two shutout innings.

The Ogden Raptors brought a pair of infielders on board in Fox Semones and Dane Tofteland. A Virginia Beach, VA native, Semones played collegiately at James Madison University for five seasons and appeared at every position except catcher and first base. Semones went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored three runs, while stealing two bases and making some fine defensive plays on Wednesday. Tofteland is from Grand Prairie, Alberta, and played four seasons for the Indiana State Sycamores. During his time in Terre Haute, Tofteland played every position except catcher.