POMONA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona Broncos' senior pitcher
Peter Bayer was selected in Round No. 9 of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. His selection at No. 270 overall marked the first Bronco chosen in the draft.
Following Bayer in the Draft were
Michael Koval,
Ryan Olson, and
Jared James. The addition of those three marks nine Broncos selected in the MLB Draft in the past two seasons, the most of any Division II program.
Bayer arrived at CPP prior to the 2016 season as a senior transfer from Richmond University. He immediately made an impact on the mound and he was selected to the NCAA Championships All-Tournament Team.
In his final performance of the season, the Parker, Colo. native dealt eight innings of scoreless baseball against the No. 3 University of Central Missouri Mules. His time on the bump saw him tally 14 strikeouts as he allowed just a single hit, a double in the eighth inning.
He led the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 103 strikeouts, 14 more than the second-place finisher. His strikeouts marked the highest single season tally since the 2005 season.
Bayer finished the season with a record of 2-2 through 16 appearances and 13 starts. He limited opposing batters to just a .198 average as 292 batters recorded just 47 hits. He allowed just 10 extra base hits on the season; seven doubles, one triple, and a pair of homeruns.
He pitched just 65.2 innings on the season which makes his 103 strikeouts all the more impressive. Early on in the 2016 season, Bayer served in a position of relief and thus secured a save.
With Bayer on the pitching staff, the Broncos secured their second-consecutive trip to Cary N.C. as they won the West Region Title. They finished the 2016 season at third-nationally in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II Championships. Total on the season, the Broncos recorded a 42-19 record, the third-highest win tally in CPP history.
