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When the first call came, the San Francisco Giants were about to make the No. 19 pick in the first round of the MLB draft on Monday evening. The man who answered, Oregon left-handed pitcher David Peterson, gave little indication of the call’s substance to the family and teammates surrounding him for a draft watch party in the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex’s dining area. But as the Giants announced their pick, Peterson put his hand to his mouth, hiding a slight smile. One of Peterson’s catchers during the past three years with the Ducks, Slade Heggen, was sitting to the UO junior’s right. He had to ask. Peterson was coy. “It went well,” Peterson said of the call. “It’s good news.” That good news was made official moments later, when the team with the next pick, the New York Mets, made Peterson the sixth Oregon baseball player ever taken in the first round. Peterson was taken with the same pick, No. 20 overall, as the Ducks’ previous first-rounder, Tyler Anderson in 2011. When the pick was announced on the MLB Network broadcast, the dining room erupted. Peterson covered his face with his hands, overcome with emotion, then stood to hug his mother, Shannon.
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Catcher Tim Susnara was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks on day two of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. Susnara (Redwood City, Calif. / St. Francis HS) was selected in the eighth round, the 232nd overall pick, by the Diamondbacks. The junior finished the 2017 season with a .248 career batting average with seven home runs and 57 RBI. He played in 148 games during his three seasons at Oregon, starting 137 including 125 behind the plate. During the 2017 season, Susnara led the Ducks with five home runs, while batting .244 with seven doubles and 17 RBI. The Ducks’ catcher was also drafted coming out of high school when he was a 34th-round pick, 1018th overall, of the San Francisco Giants. Susnara is the first Ducks’ catcher to be picked in the draft since Jack Marder was selected in the 16th round in 2011. He is also the fifth Oregon player drafted by the Diamondbacks since baseball returned in 2009. Arizona drafted shortstop Mark Karaviotis in the 19th round last season, pitcher Brando Tessar in the 25th round in 2014, closer Jimmie Sherfy in the 10th round in 2013 and infielder Danny Pulfer in the 19th round in 2011. Oregon has now had 43 players drafted since 2009 with a total of 64 Ducks drafted all-time. Susnara joins David Peterson, who was picked in Monday’s first round by the New York Mets, in getting picked this year. The MLB Draft continues Wednesday with rounds 11 through 40.
