Utah Utes baseball: C.J. Cron could be first-round MLB pick

SALT LAKE CITY — C.J. Cron's development isn't hard to measure. The University of Utah junior, a two-time All-American and back-to-back Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, has seen his stock rise since signing with the Utes in 2008.

Before enrolling at Utah, Cron was a 44th round draft pick (1,320th overall) of the Chicago White Sox.

Now, after three seasons of college baseball, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound first baseman is expected to be a first-round selection when the Major League Baseball Draft gets under way Monday (MLB Network, 5 p.m.).

"He's been a remarkable player for us for three years and the growth that he's experienced here has been tremendous," said Utah coach Bill Kinneberg. "It's been fun to watch him become the player that he is today."

Cron certainly made his mark with the Utes. He leaves the program with school records in career batting average (.396) and RBIs (198). Last season, Cron led the nation with a slugging percentage of .803 and ranked in the top 10 in batting average (.434), doubles (26), on-base percentage (.571) and total bases (159).

"On and off the field, he's as good as there is. He's as dedicated to baseball and to school as any guy we've had over the last three years," Kinneberg said. "He's a true baseball guy. He's studied it. He knows it. He's been around it."

As such, Kinneberg is confident that whoever ends with Cron will be very pleased.

"They'll get a much more polished player than any high school player they are ever going to get or the majority of college players," he said.

Cron, who graduated from Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, will be watching the draft with family and friends in Arizona.

It could be a banner year for the MWC. Besides Cron, TCU pitchers Matt Purke and Kyle Winkler could also go in the first or supplemental first rounds.

Four first-rounders have come from the conference over the years. The most recent was San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Washington Nationals in 2009. Others include TCU pitchers Andrew Cashner (No. 19 by the Chicago Cubs in 2008) and Lance Broadway (No. 15 by the Chicago White Sox in 2005). The White Sox took San Diego State pitcher Royce Ring with the 18th overall in 2002.

When this year's draft resumes Tuesday with rounds 2-30, Utah pitcher Rick Anton is expected to be taken early. The 6-foot, 190-pound lefthander earned first-team All-MWC honors are after going 9-1 with a 2.52 ERA and 85 strikeouts as a senior. The transfer from Yavapai College in his hometown of Prescott, Ariz., went 16-4 with 149 strikeouts in two seasons with the Utes.

2011 MLB Draft

First round: Monday, 5 p.m.

Rounds 2-30: Tuesday, 10 a.m.

Rounds 31-50: Wednesday, 10 a.m.

TV: MLB Network

Web: www.mlb.com

Email: dirk@desnews.com