A pair of local pitchers were selected in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft last Sunday afternoon.
Recent Millikan alum Daunte Bell II went in the 14th Round to the Milwaukee Brewers, while Lakewood alum Diego Gutierrez was taken in the 17th Round by the Baltimore Orioles out of the University of San Diego.
Bell is the two-time Moore League Pitcher of the Year, going 9-4 as a senior with a 0.67 ERA. He also struck out 100 batters while allowing just nine walks in his 83.2 innings pitched. Bell signed with the University of Houston, but now has the option to sign a professional contract instead.
The Brewers used the 431st overall pick on Bell, making him one of three Southern California high schoolers they selected in this year’s 20-round draft. Bell joins Trey Ebel from Corona High and Julian Garcia from St. John Bosco on Milwaukee’s draft board.
Bell has until July 27 to sign with the Brewers or continue his career in college.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Gutierrez went with the 500th pick in the draft to Baltimore, making it to pro ball after a pair of stops in college.
A graduate of Lakewood’s Class of 2021, Gutierrez signed with CSUN and spent four seasons with the Matadors, appearing in 46 games during his career. The 6-foot-2 righty had his best season as a freshman, when he posted a 2.92 ERA in 49.1 innings, making 16 appearances and eight starts. Gutierrez then transferred to San Diego, where his strikeout numbers jumped in his lone season with the Toreros.
In the 2026 season, Gutierrez collected 84 strikeouts in 66.2 innings, starting 14 games for USD with a 5-4 record and a 6.61 ERA.
