Bickford is No. 10 pick in baseball draft

. Pitcher goes to Toronto; Pittsburgh nabs Calabasas’ Landecker


OH, YEAH—Phillip Bickford of the Oaks Christian High baseball team was drafted No. 10 overall in the amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

OH, YEAH—Phillip Bickford of the Oaks Christian High baseball team was drafted No. 10 overall in the amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Phillip Bickford could be taking his talents to Canada.

Bickford, a right-handed pitcher for the Oaks Christian High baseball team, was selected 10th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays during last week’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Bickford, a Newbury Park resident, must decide to go pro or play for Cal State Fullerton, which was eliminated from the NCAA Division I postseason by UCLA last weekend.

The flamethrower could sign a contract for $3 million with the Blue Jays, according to multiple sources.

Bickford’s draft stock skyrocketed after he struck out 18 batters during the Lions’ CIFSouthern Section Division 4 championship victory against El Rancho on June 1.

The ace is an attractive prospect because of his 97 mph fastball.

“Phil is an animal out on the mound,” said Oaks Christian senior second baseman Austin Sreden. “Every single time he’s out there I expect him to strike someone out. I’m shocked when someone touches the ball. He’s a great pitcher and fun to watch.”

Bickford finished his senior year with a 12-1 record.

Thousand Oaks graduate Tyler Smith was selected in the eighth round (237th overall) by the Seattle Mariners. Smith played shortstop at Oregon State.

Former Newbury Park star Jimmie Sherfy was drafted in the 10th round (No. 300 overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sherfy was the University of Oregon’s closer this year.

The Pittsburgh Pirates took Adam Landecker, a Calabasas graduate and USC second baseman, in the 21st round (No. 629 overall).

Gilberto Manzano


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