AZUSA, Calif. -- For the third time in the past 4 years, the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft claimed multiple Azusa Pacific products, plucking senior LHP Peter Gehle and senior catcher Ryan Delgado in this week’s 3-day draft.

In the past 4 years, 7 Cougars have been selected by MLB organizations to continue their careers at the professional level. Gehle, a 6-foot-6 southpaw, was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the 27th round (No. 818 overall), while the Atlanta Braves selected Delgado, an NAIA All-American first team catcher, with their 32nd-round selection (No. 974 overall). In the days following the draft, senior first baseman Brice Cutspec signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.

“I’m excited for all 3 of them, because they’re all hard workers, they’re all great people, and we’re really looking forward to see them continue their success at the next level,” Cougar head coach Paul Svagdis said.

Azusa Pacific is 1 of just 3 NAIA baseball programs that have had multiple selections in at least 3 of the past 4 drafts. Azusa Pacific has now produced 33 MLB draft selections all-time, the second-highest total of any NAIA program. The addition of this year’s trio brings the total of former Cougars currently playing professionally in MLB teams’ minor-league systems to 9.

“There’s a great group of Azusa Pacific representatives in pro ball right now that have been successful at that level, starting with Jason Ray and Brandon Sisk and continuing with the draft picks in the past few seasons,” Svagdis said. “Hopefully this year’s draft is a reflection of that entire group and their ability to move on and succeed at each level. I really believe the success of those guys is what has given the guys this year a shot at the next level.”

Gehle posted a team-high 7 wins and struck out more than 1 batter per inning (86 strikeouts in 82 innings) in the 2010 season, capping a 2-year career at Azusa Pacific in which he was one of the Cougars’ most reliable starters. He tossed 178.2 innings and posted a 13-8 record over 2 years, striking out 156 and walking 44 in his career, and he earned All-GSAC recognition after his 2009 junior campaign when he went 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA.

Two of Gehle’s 2010 victories included double-digit strikeout performances, when he fanned 13 in 6 innings against Cal State San Marcos and a 12-strikeout complete-game win over Biola. He didn’t walk a batter in either of those games, and he closed out his collegiate career with back-to-back efforts of 7-plus innings, surrendering just 1 run each time in GSAC wins over The Master’s and Westmont.

“Pete had a chance to grow and develop this year with his strikeout to walk ratio,” Svagdis said. “He has a lot of upside, and I’m excited to see him jump into a pro environment, learn some things and see him continue his development against hitters at that level.”

Delgado, the only player in Azusa Pacific history with back-to-back 20-homer seasons, was drafted by the Braves as a catcher after 2 seasons as a catcher and third baseman for the Cougars. In 2010, Delgado batted a team-high .404 (80-for-198) with 22 home runs, 67 RBIs and an .808 slugging percentage in just 49 games. He finished the regular season tied for the NAIA lead in home runs and finished in a tie for ninth nationally, and he was the GSAC’s lone representative on the NAIA All-American first team.

Delgado hit 20 of his 22 home runs in GSAC play, a total unmatched by any other NAIA slugger within their respective conferences, and he hit half of his 20 GSAC home runs on the road. In GSAC play, Delgado was the league’s leader in batting average (.452), slugging percentage (.952), hits (66), RBIs (57), home runs (20), and total bases (139). During the campaign, he put together a 26-game conference hitting streak, including a string of 9 straight multi-hit games.

Defensively, Delgado also ranked as the GSAC’s top backstop against the running game, gunning down 15-of-30 on attempted steals, including 14-of-24 in conference play. Delgado, who came to Azusa Pacific as a third baseman, started 29 games in 2 years behind the plate, registering 27 runners caught stealing in 56 attempted steals.

“I was very pleased that the Braves took Ryan as a catcher,” Svagdis said. “I think he has great upside offensively, and he’s got a great arm. He always played well for us in the clutch and down the stretch, and that really showed in his pre-draft workouts. In those moments, he really performs and I think he’ll do great at the next level.”

His brilliant 2-year career placed him into the top 15 on Azusa Pacific’s career charts: home runs (second with 47), RBIs (sixth with 151), batting average (seventh with .387), total bases (eighth with 334), hits (14th with 163). Delgado was a 2-time All-GSAC selection, earning all-conference honors as a third baseman in 2009 and as a catcher in 2010.

Cutspec rewrote Azusa Pacific’s offensive record books, setting the program’s career marks for hits (300), home runs (77), total bases (586), RBIs (257), at bats (802) and games played (215). His 77 career home runs also represents the NAIA career mark, which he claimed with his 73rd blast on April 10.

Cutspec’s 4-year batting average was .374, and he is the only player in Cougar history to register 4 consecutive seasons with double-digit home runs. He shattered the Azusa Pacific single-season home run mark with a 30-homer season as a 2009 junior.

“I love the fact that the Giants decided to take Brice, because I think all he needs is a chance to play,” Svagdis said. “He’s a great left-handed hitter, and I’m excited he’s getting the chance to realize his dream of playing pro ball. I think he’s shown that he handles the wood bat well, and I’m excited to see him build on his success at the next level.”

Delgado will report to Atlanta’s short-season Danville (Va.) Braves, which opens Appalachian League play on June 22. Gehle will likely be sent to Chicago’s Appalachian League affiliate, the Bristol (N.C.) White Sox. Danville and Bristol are scheduled to play 6 times, playing a 3-game series in Bristol July 26-28 followed by another 3-game set in Danville August 9-11.

Cutspec is likely headed to San Francisco’s short-season Northwest League affiliate, the Salem-Keizer (Ore.) Volcanoes, the same league where former Cougar Scott Hodsdon entered pro ball after his 6th-round selection by the Oakland A’s in 2007.