Nine more locals drafted on final day

Nine players with local ties, including five representing UC Irvine, were selected Friday, the second and final day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Joining UCI Junior All-American pitcher Scott Gorgen, who was taken in the fourth round (125th overall) Thursday by the St. Louis Cardinals, UCI juniors Ollie Linton and Ben Orloff, redshirt sophomore Bryce Stowell, senior Aaron Lowenstein and junior Tony Asaro were also selected.

Cal State Fullerton standouts Erik Komatsu, a junior who began his collegiate career at Vanguard University, and Adam Jorgenson, a senior pitcher who played three seasons at Costa Mesa High, were other locals selected.

In addition, Newport Beach resident Shane Boras, a senior second baseman at JSerra High, was tabbed, as was Golden West College sophomore pitcher Justin La Tempa, who spent one season at UCI.

Linton, a second-team All-Big West Conference performer, was taken in the 13th round, 408th overall, by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Heading into the Anteaters’ best-of-three Super Regional against host LSU, beginning today at 3 p.m., Linton was hitting .323 with four home runs, 35 RBIs and a school single-season record 39 stolen bases.

“I’m excited,” Linton, who also owns the school career stolen base record with 68, said after a workout at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium Friday. “I’ve been waiting patiently and I got my call today and my emotions went wild. I got that gorilla off my back, so I can relax a little bit more. That gorilla was just pounding away and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I’m no longer trying to impress. Right now, I’ve just got to relax, play my game and take care of business here.”

Orloff, a first-team all-conference performer was taken in the 19th round (587th) by the Colorado Rockies.

Orloff, who has played every inning of every game during his current streak of 151 consecutive starts, is hitting .344 with 21 RBIs and 19 steals. Typically hitting in the No. 2 spot, Orloff led the nation in sacrifices his first two seasons and ranks No. 9 in that category this season. He also is one of the top fielding shortstops in college baseball with just five errors and a .982 fielding percentage.

“It’s your dream growing up to one day play professional baseball and getting drafted is a dream come true,” Orloff said.

Stowell, a transfer from Pepperdine, was taken in the 22nd round (681st) by the Cleveland Indians.

“The honor of being selected in the Major League draft is something very special,” said Stowell, who is 8-2 with a 2.77 earned-run average and has 101 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings this season. “It’s something that a lot of people don’t get to do. I’m just honored and really speechless about the whole thing.”

Lowenstein, a catcher who has thrown out 29 of the 55 runners who have tried to steal against him this season, was chosen in the 44th round, the 1,317th player picked. He is hitting .194 with one home run and 18 RBIs and is credited by pitchers with helping the Anteaters post a 2.88 team ERA, which ranks No. 2 in the nation.

Asaro, a junior outfielder and designated hitter, was taken in the 47th round by St. Louis (1,409th overall). His .568 slugging percentage leads UCI. He has produced four home runs and 19 RBIs in 95 at-bats, hitting .326.

Komatsu, an outfielder, was chosen in the eighth round (248th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers. He is hitting .348 with eight home runs, 58 RBIs, 18 steals and a .576 slugging percentage for the Titans, who are squaring off against Stanford in a Super Regional this weekend.

Jorgensen, who leads the Titans with 11 saves, was taken in the 26th round (797th overall), by the Rockies. He is 2-1 this season with a 5.18 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings.

Boras, the son of super agent Scott Boras, was chosen in the 35th round by the Cardinals. He hit .315 in 21 games as a prep senior with six RBIs. He has committed to play at USC.

La Tempa, taken in the 22nd round (678th overall) by Arizona. He was 6-3 with a 2.63 ERA as a sophomore at Golden West College this season.

Matt Gorgen, the twin brother of Scott Gorgen, was taken in the 16th round (473rd overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays. Matt Gorgen was a junior closer at Cal this season.

Linton and Lowenstein are expected to sign, while Orloff and Stowell said they will make their decisions after UCI’s season ends. Orloff could return for a senior season and Stowell has two years of college eligibility remaining.

Asaro will also have the choice of signing or returning.

The six draftees from UCI rank second in school annals.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.