First Ever PBL Draft Sees 16 Players Selected

July 25, 2021

University of Nevada, Reno Pitcher Shane Gustafson Selected First Overall

Spokane, WA – July 28, 2021

The first-ever Pioneer Baseball League Draft concluded Sunday, July 25th, with 16 players selected by the eight PBL ballclubs. The draft followed the conclusion of a two-day tryout camp at Lindquist Field in Ogden, Utah attended by over 100 players.

Pitcher Shane Gustafson out of the University of Nevada, Reno was selected as the first overall pick in the draft. The 6’5” right-hander compiled a 5-2 D1 (Mountain West Conference) record with a 3.48 ERA over three varsity years with the UNR Wolf Pack.

“It’s a great honor and I am excited to continue my baseball career at the professional level” said Shane Gustafson on being the first round pick.

First overall pick, Shane Gustafson with Great Falls scout Vance Law

In three draft rounds, each of the Pioneer League clubs (Great Falls Voyagers, Billings Mustangs, Rocky Mountain Vibes, Boise Hawks, Grand Junction Rockies, Ogden Raptors, Idaho Falls Chukars, and Missoula Paddleheads) signed players either to a 2021 contract or offered a 2022 Spring Training invite.

“I was thrilled with the amount of talent we saw at the camp this weekend and, more importantly, I was really impressed that 16 players got drafted,” said Bill Bavasi, the Pioneer League’s Director of Player Development. “I look forward to our tryouts this off-season because it’s a great way for talented players to come into our league.”

The list of drafted players is as follows:

Round 1:

(1) Great Falls: Shane Gustafson

(2) Billings: Yasnier Laureano

Bill Bavasi with second overall pick Yasnier Laureano

(3) Rocky Mountain: Ethan Lopez

(4) Boise: Kenny Ogg

(5) Grand Junction: Chase Stratton

(6) Ogden: Reese Alexiades

(7) Idaho Falls: Michael Slaten

(8) Missoula: Cord Johnson

Round 2:

(9) Missoula: Ellison Hanna II

(10) Idaho Falls: Hogan Brown

(11) Ogden: Laurington “Lolo” Williams

The three Ogden Raptors selections, Reese Alexiades (left), Lolo Williams (middle), and Malik Blaise (right)

(12) Grand Junction: Alex Leach

(13) Boise: Jake Holloway

(14) Rocky Mountain: Pass

(15) Billings: Ellis Stevens

(16) Great Falls: Pass

Round 3:

(17) Great Falls: Pass

(18) Billings: Pass

(19) Rocky Mountain: Pass

(20) Boise: Pass

(21) Grand Junction: Pass

(22) Ogden: Malik Blaise

(23) Idaho Falls: Pass

(24) Missoula: Jalen Horton

Missoula representative, George Horton, with their three selections, Cord Johnson (left), Jalen Horton (middle), and Ellison Hanna II (right)

Since 1939, the Pioneer League has operated in the Mountain West region. Beginning in 2021, the PBL will be a Major League Baseball Professional Partner League with teams in Montana (Billings, Missoula and Great Falls), Idaho (Boise and Idaho Falls), Utah (Ogden) and Colorado (Grand Junction and Colorado Springs). The Northern Colorado Owlz, formerly Orem Owlz, join the League for the 2022 season. For more information go to www.pioneerleague.com.