By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

College of the Canyons saw two Cougars selected during the 2018 Major League Baseball first-year player draft, with freshman outfielder Corbin Williams and sophomore hurler Jacob Lopez both chosen on the final day of the three-day event.

Williams, who just completed his freshman campaign at COC, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 24th round (707th pick).

A graduate of Pete Knight High School in Palmdale, Williams was an All-Western State Conference (WSC) Second Team honoree. The speedy center fielder, who also took home conference Golden Glove honors, finished the season with a .311 batting average, 25 runs, eight stolen bases and a .368 on-base percentage across 132 at-bats.

Lopez, the ace of COC’s pitching staff, was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 26th round (766th pick).

The former Saugus High School southpaw was a two-year starter for the Cougars. In addition to being named the 2018 WSC, East Division Pitcher of the Year, Lopez was also named to the 2018 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Pacific Association Division (PAD) All-American Second Team; the ABCA/PAD Southern California All-Region First Team; and the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) Southern California All-State Team. He also earned All-WSC First-Team honors for COC as a freshman.

Lopez finished the 2018 season with an 9-2 record and state-leading 128 punch-outs after logging double-digit strikeout totals in six of his 14 starts. His 1.62 ERA across 88 and 2/3 innings of work also ranked fourth in California.

At season’s end, Lopez committed to continue his career at Texas Tech University.