Davis Wendzel selected in first round of MLB Draft by Texas Rangers

WACO, Texas – Junior third baseman Davis Wendzel was selected 41st overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2019 MLB First Year Player Draft, it was announced Monday evening.  

Wendzel, the 41st overall pick in the first round competitive balance A becomes the 12th Bear to be selected in the first round and along with Shea Langeliers (9th overall pick), the Bears have two first rounders in the same year for the first time in program history.

Also for the first time in head coach Steve Rodriguez’s 16-year he has two first round selections in the same year. Overall, Wendzel is the 53rd overall draft pick Rodriguez has coached in his 16-year career. 

A 2019 Third Team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball, Wendzel was the Co-Big 12 Player of the Year after finishing the regular season with a batting average of .385, good for 32ndnationally. In conference play he led the league with a.404 batting average. His on-base percentage of .500 was also tops in the conference and 19th-best in the country. Wendzel’s slugging percentage of .647 was also good for third in the conference. He had 60 total hits, with 17 doubles and eight homers, second-most on the team. His 17 doubles through the regular season were also second-most on the team and ranks fourth in the Big 12. The San Clemente, Calif., native also stole a team and career-high 11 bases on the season. 

Wendzel finished the 2019 season with a slash line of .367/.484/.610. He drove home 42 runs, had eight home runs and 19 doubles. 

As good as the junior has been at the plate, he is possibly even more impressive on the field, only making only two errors at the hot corner in 46 starts, while making countless run-saving plays for the Bears. 

He finished his Baylor career slashing .326/.449/.557, along with 24 home runs, 48 doubles and three triples. He also had a discerning eye at the plate, finishing with 100 walks.

With the picks of Langeliers and Wendzel, Baylor has had at least one player selected in 42 of 44 drafts since 1976. The Bears have had 142 total draft picks in program history.