The major league baseball draft continued Tuesday with the Boston Red Sox taking more young players while the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants plucked players out of Orono.

University of Maine outfielder Taylor Lewis, a 20-year-old junior, was drafted in the 10th round by Pittsburgh. Lewis, of Montville, Conn., has a career .321 batting average with the Black Bears.

The Giants selected Maine right-hander Keith Bilodeau, a junior from Bourne, Mass., in the 24th round. Bilodeau, 21, was the Black Bears’ ace, tying the school record for wins in a season with a 10-3 record.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox were raiding the high schools. A day after picking two high school and two college players in the first round, Boston chose high school players with five of its next seven picks, including the second- and third-rounders.

Boston’s second-round selection was outfielder Williams Jerez, a Dominican who moved to New York two years ago. Jerez, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, is a potential five-tool player, according to Baseball America.

In the third round, the Red Sox took another catcher, Jordan Weems from Columbus, Ga.

Boston also took a high school catcher in Monday’s first round: Blake Swihart of Rio Rancho, N.M.

The Red Sox have taken catchers in early rounds before, although not this early. In 2008, Boston took Ryan Lavarnway (sixth round) and Tim Federowicz (seventh), both out of college. Both are now playing with the Portland Sea Dogs.

In the fourth round Tuesday, the Red Sox went back to college and selected right-hander Noe Ramirez, who had a 1.76 ERA with Cal State-Fullerton.

One interesting pick by the Red Sox was high school outfielder Senquez Golson of Pascagoula, Miss., in the eighth round. He has a football scholarship in hand to attend the University of Mississippi.

Maine’s drafted players reflected the Black Bears’ successful run this year, winning the America East Conference title and recording a victory in the NCAA playoffs.

Lewis was named the outstanding player in the conference tournament, and Bilodeau started Maine’s opening game in the NCAA regionals. He allowed four runs in the first inning against North Carolina, but rebounded to allow no runs and only three hits over the next six innings.

The Black Bears still could have one more pitcher selected. A.J. Bazdanes, a right-handed junior from Nashua, N.J., was ranked the ninth-best draft prospect in northern New England by Baseball America.

Today is the last day of the draft, featuring rounds 31 through 50.

 

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at: kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases