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Dodgers draftee Josh Sborz named Most Outstanding Player of College World Series

Josb Sborz did not allow a run in 13 high-leverage innings for Virginia in teh College World Series.
Josb Sborz did not allow a run in 13 high-leverage innings for Virginia in teh College World Series.
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

University of Virginia closer Josh Sborz didn't pitch on Tuesday night, but he pitched well enough in Omaha to earn Most Outstanding Player honors as Virginia won its first College World Series championship, clinched Wednesday night with a 4-2 win over Vanderbilt.

The Dodgers drafted Sborz with their Competitive Balance Round B pick, No. 74 overall in the 2015 MLB Draft, and plan to use him as a starter.

Sborz appeared in four games for Virginia in the College World Series, picking up three wins and a save. He pitched 13 scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and four walks, with 10 strikeouts. He threw 191 pitches in 11 days, including 77 pitches in four scoreless innings on Tuesday innings to close out a 5-4 win that kept Virginia's season alive.

Dodgers' first-round pick Walker Buehler, picked No. 24 overall, started for Vanderbilt and pitched three scoreless innings, but was pulled after just three batters in the fourth inning, allowing a walk, a home run and a walk. He left in a 2-2 tie and got a no-decision.

Walker in the College World Series allowed three runs in 11 innings, with five walks and 11 strikeouts.

Buehler's teammate, Philip Pfeifer, was picked in the third round by the Dodgers. He took the loss on Tuesday, allowing three unearned runs in 5⅔ innings. In two starts in Omaha the left-handed Pfeifer had a 0.00 ERA in 12⅔ innings, allowing 12 hits and four walks, with 13 strikeouts.

Sborz, Walker and Pfeifer combined during the College World Series to go 5-2 with one save and a 0.74 ERA, with 34 strikeouts and 13 walks in 36⅔ innings.

Now that their seasons are over, the numbers that matter for the trio of pitchers are $2,094,400, $827,000 and $564,700, the allotted slot bonus amounts for Walker, Sborz and Pfeifer, respectively.

The Dodgers are currently $128,900 over their allotted bonus pool, with supplemental first-rounder Kyle Funkhouser out of Louisville and first baseman Edwin Rios out of Florida International (sixth rounder) the only other two unsigned picks from the first 10 rounds.

The Dodgers have signed a total of 28 of their 42 picks, with the latest signee Garrett Kennedy, catcher from the University of Miami, picked in the 14th round. He was 1-for-9 with three walks in three games in the College World Series with the Hurricanes, catching two games and serving as designated hitter once.

Kennedy was added to the active roster for rookie-level Ogden on Wednesday, though he did not play on Wednesday night.