The Colorado Rockies drafted University of Colorado Colorado Springs senior outfielder Zach Hall (Granite Bay, Calif.) today in the 19th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and he was the first outfielder selected by the Rockies.
“This is a huge day for UCCS and our baseball program,” said UCCS head baseball coach Dave Hajek. “Zach has been one of our team leaders from day one in our new program. He has been a huge part of getting our team on the RMAC map. Congrats to Zach and his family on this opportunity!”
Hall will begin his professional career with the Grand Junction Rockies (Pioneer League). His first game for the Rockies will also be played on the same field where he played his final college game. The Rockies will open their season June 15 at Suplizio Field against the Orem (Utah) Owlz. Hall’s final game for UCCS occurred on May 11 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament elimination game against Colorado Mesa University.
In two seasons with the Mountain Lions, Hall batted .331 after accumulating 125 hits, 106 runs, 102 runs batted in, 33 home runs, 25 doubles and two triples. A starter in all 100 games, Hall posted a .971 fielding percentage on 166 chances. He drew 50 walks in two seasons and stole eight bases.
A 2018 D2CCCA All-American and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-South Central Second Team selection, Hall also earned All-RMAC First Team, RMAC Gold Glove and the RMAC All-Academic First Team honors. He closed his senior campaign batting .317 with a .711 slugging percentage and a .406 on-base percentage. Hall ranked second in the conference in runs batted in (60) and home runs (20), and third in runs scored (58) and total bases (128). Hall recorded at least one hit in 37 games, including 17 multiple hit games. Defensively, he recorded 67 putouts and assisted on five as part of his .973 fielding percentage.
Hall is the first Mountain Lion in program history to be drafted into MLB.
