A pair of Long Beach products were selected in the MLB Draft last weekend–and both by the same team. The Boston Red Sox took Lakewood alum Anthony Eyanson in the third round with the 87th pick, then the next day selected Millikan alum Myles Patton in the seventh round with the 208th pick. Both Moore League aces now turn the page on their successful careers to this point and start anew: as professional pitchers in one of the sport’s most prestigious franchises.
Of other note around the city: no Long Beach State Dirtbags were drafted, the first time that’s happened since 1988. Two-time Moore League Player of the Year and recent Millikan alum Anthony Pack was also not selected, and will go on to NCAA baseball at the University of Texas.
Anthony Eyanson: 3rd round, 87th pick
Lakewood alum Anthony Eyanson’s house is just a stone’s throw from his alma mater, and the entire street was shut down for a block party that doubled as a Draft watch party. The middle of the street was filled with canopied seating as friends, family, and former teammates and coaches gathered to support Eyanson.
When his name was called on the MLB Network, the crowd cheered as Eyanson clapped his hands and bowed his head in relief. He spoke briefly to the gathered crowd after his name was called.
“Old faces, new faces you guys are the best,” he said. “I appreciate every single one of you. I haven’t done it by myself at all. Whether you coached or played with me or kept me in between the lines in real life, I just want to say thank you to everybody and let’s go Red Sox.”
Eyanson was projected somewhere in the 40s but went a little later than expected, a normal occurrence with the multiple variables involved with the MLB Draft, where both high school and college players are eligible and signability is a huge factor. As with all drafts, of course, where you’re taken ultimately doesn’t matter–a lifetime of work results in a name being read by the commissioner, but that culminating moment is really just the start of the next step.
“The Red Sox are getting a great player, I don’t know if people understand how hungry and motivated he is,” said Anthony’s father Jeff. “This has been his dream–he’s an NCAA national champion, he’s been in a big environment at LSU. We knew when he was 10 that he was a special athlete, we started seeing signs.”
Lakewood coach Spud O’Neil was one of those on hand to support Eyanson, along with several of his youth coaches. O’Neil has coached several MLB standouts over the last several decades as the coach of the Lancers, and said Eyanson was a standout early.
“He was one of the hardest working kids we’ve had,” he said. “We knew he’d be something special. He played shortstop, center field, pitcher. He’s a great athlete–but he also had a great work ethic.”
Myle Patton: 7th round, 208th pick
Patton had a standout career at Millikan and then Long Beach State before transferring to Texas A&M for this most recent season. The lefty will now begin his career with the Red Sox in the same organization as Eyanson, a player with whom he will be linked. The two were both great in the Moore League, and then had a memorable battle at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field when Patton was with the Dirtbags and Eyanson was with UCSD.
Patton was not only a standout with Millikan but at Long Beach PONY, where he helped lead the Whaley boys to the World Series championship series.
“We congratulate Myles and the entire Patton family for this great moment, knowing how much time and effort they all put in to reach this goal,” said Ken Jakemer, Patton’s PONY All-Stars coach.
