Cliff Kirkpatrick

C Ryan Ortiz was the first Oregon State baseball player drafted. He was taken in the sixth round with the 183rd pick by the Oakland A’s. Ortiz was the 16th catcher selected.

The Beavers have had at least one player selected in the draft since 1993. Ortiz is the first OSU player selected by Oakland sine Mike Gorman in the 21st round of the 1982 draft.

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with Ortiz, and he said he’s almost sure he’s going pro. Holding out for money is not his thing. And he feels ready.

“I was studying for a final and had the draft tracker up,” Ortiz said. “My name popped up, and I got the call.”

After a brief chat with the A’s, Ortiz had to rush to an exercise sports science final. He has one more year of school left and plans to finish his business degree when he can.

“Whenever I have time to take classes, I will,” Ortiz said. “I’ll do online classes and come back in the fall.”

Ortiz is probably going to play in Vancouver, Canada, for the A’s this summer in the Northwest League. He was asked about his passport, and he has one.

“It’s funny that I get to come back to the Northwest and see friends,” Ortiz said.

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