Nats sign 2nd round pick Johansen

Photo via DBUPatriots.com

It may have taken the Nationals almost five hours on Thursday night to make their first pick of the 2013 MLB Draft, but they wasted no time in signing him.

Second round selection Jake Johansen has already agreed to a deal with the Nats after being taken with the 68th overall pick. The quick turnaround had to do with the new CBA and its system of contract rules, but also an urgency on the part of the player to get started.

"I wanted to go out and play as quickly as possible so I could increase my chances to possibly be up in the major leagues as soon as possible," Johansen said.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander from Dallas Baptist University knew of the Nationals' interest in him after visiting this past week with members of their front office. He was impressed with the team's positivity and vision, as well as their track record with young pitchers.

"I was just hoping the Nationals would get the chance to draft me," he said. "With all the positive things I've heard about the player development of the Nationals, I have no doubt, I'm very confident that I will reach that potential."

Nats 2013 draft tracker

Photo by USA Today

After taking RHP Jake Johansen out of Dallas Baptist University on Thursday night, the Nationals kicked off the second day of the draft by picking third baseman Drew Ward out of Leedey High School in Oklahoma. Here is a look at the Nationals' draft with updates as the picks come in:

Round 2, 68th overall: RHP Jake Johansen - Dallas Baptist University

*6-foot-6 power arm with triple digit fastball
*projects as starter at major league level
*22 years old, went 7-6 with 5.40 ERA at DBU this season
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Nats draft RHP Johansen with 68th pick

Photo by USA Today

[Updated 1:08 a.m.]

After waiting nearly five hours to make their first pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals selected 22-year-old pitcher Jacob Johansen out of Dallas Baptist University with the 68^th overall pick in the second round.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander has a fastball that reaches 100 miles per hour and went 7-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 88 1/3 innings this season with the DBU Patriots. The Nationals project him as a starting pitcher at the major league level.

“Definitely a starter,” Nationals scouting director Kris Kline said. “He has starter actions. He repeats his delivery, it’s a clean arm action.”

“There is no reason why this guy can't, with a few tweaks from our staff, that this guy can't be a front-line guy.”