Cal Poly outfielder Alex McKenna drafted by 2017 World Series champions

Cal Poly junior Alex McKenna was selected Tuesday by the World Series champion Houston Astros in the fourth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft.

The center fielder and 2018 Big West Conference field player of the year was taken with the 132nd pick. The assigned value for the 132nd pick, according to MLB.com, is $410,400.

Major League scouts fell in love with McKenna's offensive production over three seasons at Cal Poly. McKenna's batting average dipped slightly during this past season (from .356 as a sophomore to .339), but he still had career highs in runs (51), doubles (15), walks (27), on-base percentage (.424) and slugging percentage (.506).

McKenna, 20, showed he could compete against some of the best players in the country when he played summer baseball in the Cape Cod League for Yarmouth-Dennis in 2017. Using a wood bat, McKenna hit .298 over 31 games with nine doubles, 16 RBI, two triples and stole 15 of 22 bases.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Alemany High School product from Canyon Country, just outside of Santa Clarita, becomes the 29th Mustang chosen in the top 10 rounds of the draft since Larry Lee took over as head coach in 2003. Pitchers Spencer Howard (Philadelphia Phillies) and Erich Uelmen (Chicago Cubs) were drafted in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, in 2017.

Shortly after McKenna was selected, Cal Poly junior catcher Nick Meyer was selected by the New York Mets in the sixth round.

Cal Poly senior pitcher Trent Shelton and Cal Poly juniors — shortstop Kyle Marinconz, pitcher Jarred Zill and pitcher Michael Clark — could also draw interest in this year's draft as selections continue through Wednesday.

This story was originally published June 5, 2018 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Cal Poly outfielder Alex McKenna drafted by 2017 World Series champions."