Dave Horlacher, a right-handed pitcher from BYU, was drafted in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers as the 256th pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft and teammate Brandon Taylor was taken in the 17th round as the 520th pick by the Chicago Cubs.
Horlacher, from St. George, transferred to BYU from Dixie State College after helping the Rebels to the National Junior College World Series title last season.
The 6-3, 180 junior was a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection, made the All-MWC Tournament team and was MWC Pitcher of the Week vs. UNLV for a 5-0 shutout in a four-hitter against the Rebels in April.
"I am happy Dave gets an opportunity that most kids only get to dream about," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "We wish him a long, illustrious career.
"I'm excited for Brandon, but I'm disappointed he was overlooked that long. I guarantee he is a much, much more polished player than many of those taken before him."
Taylor, a 6-2, 190, junior from Orem, played at Utah Valley State College and Timpanogos High. He was recently selected as a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball magazine and was the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.
Taylor batted .356 with 20 homers, 83 RBI and 85 hits this past season as BYU's third baseman. Taylor currently ranks as third in the NCAA for RBI, 12th in home runs and 17th in slugging percentage at .711. Four times this season he belted grand slam homers. Twice Taylor hit for the cycle to tie an NCAA record. Taylor was twice named MWC Co-Player of the Week.
Horlacher, a graduate of Dixie High and a returned missionary from Chile, posted a 3.80 earned run average with a 6-2 record in 15 starts and 94.2 innings, striking out 82 batters with the Cougars. He also pitched another complete game against UNLV in a semi-final victory at the MWC Tourney. He struck out a season-high 10 batters in eight-plus innings in a loss at New Mexico. He struck out nine in eight innings in a victory at the Air Force Academy and struck out eight in a complete game loss at No. 30 Oral Roberts. He also tied an MWC Games record for most games started at 10.
This is the second year in a row a BYU junior pitcher has been drafted in the eighth round. Nick Lemon was drafted in that round last year by the Chicago White Sox.