Prior to Major League Baseball settling on a dramatically shortened 2020 Draft, the Houston Astros had been stripped of their top two picks this year and in 2021 as part of the punishment levied for their electron sign-stealing.
Including a compensation pick received when Gerrit Cole signed with the New York Yankees, the Astros still had four selections in the 2020 MLB Draft. Their first (No. 72 overall) was used on right-handed pitcher Alex Santos out of Mount Saint Michael Academy in New York.
Then in the third round, Houston drafted Vanderbilt right-handed pitcher Tyler Brown with the 101st overall pick. Tennessee outfielder Zach Daniels was taken in the fourth round (131st overall) and the last pick (160th) of the 2020 MLB Draft was Shay Whitcomb, a shortstop from UC San Diego.
As fate would have it, the Newbury Park, Calif., native is a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com:
Oh no, Shay Whitcomb is a Dodgers fan.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 12, 2020
That ironic twist was nothing more than a coincidence, as Whitcomb has a signing agreement with the Astros, and he credited them for attention given throughout the draft process:
Astros 5th-round pick Shay Whitcomb (UC San Diego) has deal in place with the club:
"Ever since day one, they've been a team that's been interested in me and that's went a long way. I can't wait for the opportunity. I'm excited to work with the staff and what's in the future."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 12, 2020
The Astros and Dodgers will forever be connected by a 2017 World Series that at the time was considered one of the more competitive and entertaining of all-time. It ultimately became marred by the Astros’ cheating, which naturally drew the ire of several Dodgers.
Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner were among the most vocal in the aftermath of MLB announcing its findings and punishment. Bellinger matter of factly said the Astros stole a World Series from the Dodgers, and Turner said they could not be considered champions.
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