KANSAS CITY, Mo.– The Kansas City Royals have selected A.J. Puckett, a right-handed pitcher from Pepperdine University, with their top selection in the First-Year Player Draft, 67th overall in the second round.

Puckett, 21, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, went 9-3 with a 1.27 ERA as a junior, posting the third-best ERA in West Coast Conference history. His season included a 45.2 consecutive scoreless innings streak for the Waves, the third-longest streak in modern college baseball history.