Douglas County’s Case Williams, Pueblo West alum R.J. Dabovich selected in MLB Draft
Two former Colorado high school baseball players were selected in the MLB Draft on Thursday evening.
Douglas County senior Case Williams and Pueblo West alum R.J. Dabovich were each drafted in the fourth round, four selections apart.
Williams, a right-handed pitcher, went to the hometown Colorado Rockies with the 110th overall pick. This is the 10th time a Douglas County product has been drafted, and the first time since 2006.
A Santa Clara commit, Williams was 8-1 with a 1.81 ERA for the Huskies during his junior season, and tossed a no-hitter. In 50 1/3 innings, he struck out 79 against 23 walks. His senior year, of course, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Williams is the first Colorado player to be drafted straight out of high school since 2018.
Dabovich, a right-handed pitcher, was drafted by the San Francisco Giants with the No. 114 overall pick.
He appeared in nine games for Arizona State before his junior season was cut short this spring. Dabovich had a 0.77 ERA in in 11 2/3 innings, and allowed just one earned run and three hits. He had 17 strikeouts against nine walks. As a junior, he was 7-1 with a 4.75 ERA, and started nine games.
At Pueblo West, Dabovich helped build the foundation of a great baseball program, including an appearance in the Class 4A state championship game in 2016.
Dabovich became the first Cyclone alum taken in the MLB Draft in 2018 when he was taken out of Central Arizona College in the 18th round.
The pair join the more than 750 former Colorado high school baseball players who have been selected throughout history. Browse a database of each selection here. Colorado has had at least two products selected every year since the draft started in 1965.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this year’s MLB Draft has been shortened to five rounds from its usual 40.
