HOUSTON -- The Astros were surprised Riley Ferrell was still available when it was time to make their third-round selection in the MLB Draft on Tuesday, but it was the kind of surprise every team desires this time of year.
With most teams coveting the same small group of elite talent in the early rounds of the Draft, there's no telling who will be available as players start flying off the board. When it was time to pick 79th overall, the Astros had no hesitation when selecting Ferrell, a hard-throwing right-hander from Texas Christian University.
"We were very happy to get him in the third round," Astros amateur scouting director Mike Elias said.