With the fifth pick in the Major League Baseball's First Year Player Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected, right-handed pitcher Kyle Zimmer out of the University of San Diego.

The junior, posted a 5-3 record, striking out 104 batters while only walking 17. Zimmer complied a 2.85 ERA, tossing 3 complete games
this season.

Zimmer had an eye-opening performance in NCAA Regional play against UCLA’s Gerrit Cole. San Francisco won the game 3-0 as Zimmer fired a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and zero walks, retiring 26 of the 28 batters he faced.

At 20 years of age, 6’4” and 220 lbs, Zimmer is expected to be a fixture in the Royals’ starting rotation within the next 2-3 years.

Zimmer is the first pitcher the Royals have selected in the first round since 2009, when they drafted Aaron Crow 12th overall.

Kansas City’s next selection will be the 66th overall pick in the second round.