SAN DIEGO -- A pair of former Aztecs entered the world of professional sports via the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
In MLB, Ty France (2013-15) started at first base in all six of Seattle's games leading into the All-Star Break. This week, France batted .277 with a .250 on base percentage, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. On Friday night, France singled off Steve Cishek to drive in J.P. Crawford in the seventh inning to tie the Los Angeles Angels at 3-3 in an eventual 7-3 Mariners win. On the season, France is batting .262 with a .344 on base percentage, eight home runs, 37 RBIs and 39 runs. The Mariners are in third place and trail Houston by seven games. Stephen Strasburg (2007-09) has been throwing bullpen sessions as he attempts to return from the injured list for Washington with a neck strain. On the season, Strasburg is 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. Washington is in fourth place in the NL East, six games behind New York. Two former Aztecs were drafted on the second day of the 2021 MLB First Year Player Draft, both by Pittsburgh. The Pirates selected Mike Jarvis to open the sixth round with the 163rd pick and Wyatt Hendrie to begin the seventh round with the 193rd pick. Jarvis, a second baseman, spent three seasons on the Mesa and Hendrie, a catcher, spent two.
On the PGA Tour, Xander Schauffele (2013-15) tied for 10th at 14-under-par in the Scottish Open. Additionally, J.J. Spaun (2009-12) tied for 64th at the John Deere Classic at 3-under-par while Scott Piercy (1999-01) tied for 69th at even-par. Next weekend, Schauffele will be competing in The Open Championship in Sandwich, England. He is ranked fifth in the world and eighth in the FedEx Cup. Spaun, meanwhile, will compete in the Barbasol Championship in Nicholasville, Ky.