Cal’s Jefferies, Cumberland set to realize MLB dreams

Some people relish the anticipation.

Daulton Jefferies doesn’t count himself among them. The Buhach Colony High School graduate and Cal ace is a planner and would prefer to have the next step in his dreams of a Major League Baseball career already laid out before him.

His consolation is he won’t have to wait any longer. The MLB amateur draft begins Thursday and runs through Saturday, with Jefferies and teammate Brett Cumberland (Turlock High) expected to go in the first few rounds.

“It’s definitely an exciting time,” Jefferies said. “The year went by pretty fast, but at the same time it was kind of a hurry-up-and-wait process, knowing the draft was coming. I’ve been trying to take a step back and appreciate the process.

“Growing up, you watch the draft because you want to see the next big star or franchise player. So to now have my name associated with that is a pretty humbling feeling.”

Jefferies, who was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 39th round coming out of high school, went to Cal to improve his draft stock. With his name being kicked around for as early as the first round, he certainly did that. If this was his final season with the Bears, Jefferies certainly left scouts with a lasting impression.

In eight starts, the junior right-hander went 7-0 with a 1.08 ERA and 53 strikeouts to just eight walks in 50 innings. The only downside was a shoulder strain that cost him almost two months of the season. He returned in time to help Cal make a postseason push, making two starts and throwing eight shutout innings of one-hit ball.

“It was important for me to go out and see I could do it after coming back from the injury,” Jefferies said. “I thought it was extremely beneficial both for me and whatever happens (Thursday). I felt good, and I felt like it gave the scouts one last good impression.”

Assuming the MLB teams agree with the health of Jefferies’ shoulder, it doesn’t sound as if they’ll wait long to draft him. MLB.com ranks Jefferies as the 57th-best✔ prospect in the draft. The scouting report said, “Jefferies uses a compact delivery that helps him bring fastballs up to 95 mph to the plate. He can add and subtract from his heater, sitting most comfortably in the low-90s. Jefferies throws his slider across his body, and it serves as more of a chase pitch right now. He doesn’t use his changeup that much, but it has good sink and has been effective against left-handed hitters at times. A former shortstop, Jefferies fields his position very well and is extremely competitive on the mound.”

It goes on to say, “If the medicals check out, a team could still take Jefferies early, thinking he could be a Mike Leake or Jeremy Hellickson-like undersized right-hander.”

MLB.com has similarly high praise for Cumberland, who was ranked the draft’s 69th-best prospect.

Cumberland’s bat looks ready for the pros after he led the Bears in all major offensive categories as a sophomore. The catcher hit a team-best .344 with 46 runs, 16 home runs and 51 RBIs, earning him the Pacific-12 Conference Player of the Year honor and third-team All-America distinction.

“I don’t think the Pac-12 Player of the Year does much for my draft status, but it definitely doesn’t hurt,” Cumberland said. “Daulton is my roommate, so it’s pretty awesome to go through this with him.

“It’s pretty insane, even now with the draft here, to have my name associated with something you dream about since you were a kid. I always knew I wanted to play professional baseball, but it still hasn’t really sunken in yet. It might not until (Thursday) or whenever it finally happens. I know there’s a plan for me, so I’m just trying to live in the moment and enjoy it.”

The big question for Cumberland is whether pro teams envision him behind the plate, but even if a position change is in his future, his bat is coveted.

According to MLB.com, “Cumberland has proven to be one of the most advanced college bats in the class this year. The switch hitter has a terrific approach, takes pitches and draws walks, with all signs pointing to hitting for average. He also doesn’t miss mistakes, punishing fastballs and reaching double digits in home runs this spring.”

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Cal’s Jefferies, Cumberland set to realize MLB dreams."