Northwest Notes July 11, 2023

Zags' Wild, WSU's Advincula taken on second day of MLB draft

Gonzaga pitcher Owen Wild became the 27th Zag since 2015 selected in the MLB draft when the Tampa Bay Rays took him with the 213th overall pick in the seventh round on Monday.

Washington State outfielder Jonah Advincula was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the eighth round, overall pick No. 248, and is the first Cougar selected by Cleveland since pitcher Jeremy Johnson in 2009.

Wild appeared in 33 games over three seasons with GU, transitioning into a starting role during the 2022 season. The 6-2 righty compiled a 4.29 ERA, striking out 191 batters, an average of almost 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. Wild led the WCC in strikeouts in 2023, finishing with 105.

Wild earned All-WCC honors in 2022 after compiling a 8-1 record over 15 appearances, sporting a 3.03 ERA with 83 strikeouts and 24 walks.

Advincula earned All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention in his first season at WSU after transferring from NCAA Division III University of Redlands (Calif.), where he played three seasons. The junior outfielder and leadoff man started in 51 of the Cougars 52 games this season and hit .350 with 53 runs scored, 70 hits, 20 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 33 RBI and was 24-of-26 in stolen base attempts.

Advincula tied for sixth in the Pac-12 in doubles (20) and was fourth in stolen bases (24), the most doubles by a Cougar since 2006, the most stolen bases since 1996 and was the first Coug to record 20 doubles and 20 stolen bases in program history.

The Santa Clara, Calif. native was 10th in the league in hitting (.350).