The Rangers used their 33rd-round pick in the MLB First-Year Player Draft yesterday to select Johnathan Taylor, an outfielder from the Univ. of Georgia who was "paralyzed from the waist down" after he "collided with a teammate in the outfield," according to William Wilkerson of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Rangers GM Jon Daniels said selecting Taylor was the idea of Dir of Amateur Scouting Kip Fagg and Georgia-area scout Ryan Coe. Daniels: "They mentioned it to me a couple days ago. It is a classy move on their part." UGA coach David Perno said, "This was truly a classy move and a great gesture on the part of the Texas Rangers organization." Wilkerson notes UGA OF Zach Cone, who collided with Taylor, was picked by the Rangers with the 37th overall pick (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/9). In Dallas, Gerry Fraley notes Coe "came up with the idea as a way of recognizing Taylor and his fight to walk again." The Rangers previously had sent him a "personalized team jersey" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/9). Coe said, "The kid, he's obviously going through a tough time, and this was a way to let him know that people are thinking about him. And you know what? The kid deserved to be drafted." Coe added, "He deserved the recognition to be drafted" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/9).
ASTROS ALSO TAKE PARALYZED PLAYER: In Houston, Zachary Levine reported the Astros used their 40th round pick on San Jacinto College P Buddy Lamothe, who was "paralyzed in a swimming accident" last month. The team picked Lamothe "as a nice gesture to a devastated family" (CHRON.com, 6/8). CBSSPORTS.com's C. Trent Rosecrans wrote, "Kudos to both the Rangers and Astros for showing hearts the size of Texas" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/8).
