Ryan Perry

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Observers have lauded the talent of the Arizona Wildcats bullpen all season, and Thursday's major-league draft results backed up the hype.

Junior relievers Ryan Perry and Daniel Schlereth were selected in the first round, the first time more than one Wildcat has been drafted in the opening round under coach Andy Lopez.

The Detroit Tigers made Perry, a Marana High School graduate, the 21st overall pick. The Arizona Diamondbacks took Schlereth 26th.

Both have overcome adversity to reach this point. Perry broke his nonthrowing arm and three vertebrae and lacerated his liver in a motorcycle accident in January 2007, and Schlereth came back from 2004 Tommy John surgery.

The Houston Astros took Arizona junior outfielder T.J. Steele, a former Canyon del Oro standout, in the fourth round. The three players learned they were drafted after practicing Thursday afternoon at Miami in preparation for an NCAA super regional best-of-three series against the top-seeded Hurricanes. The first six rounds of the draft were completed Thursday.

Perry, a 6-foot-4-inch right-hander, impressed the Tigers when his fastball velocity hit 100 mph twice last week during the Ann Arbor, Mich., regional. After receiving the news of the draft, Perry received numerous hugs from his teammates shortly after practice. His parents, Keith and Lynne, were watching the draft at a nearby restaurant.

"I'm pretty stunned," said Perry, who was told by his advisers he could go anywhere from No. 16 to 36. "It's an honor, especially to go in the first round."

Early last year, Perry crashed a friend's 2007 blue Suzuki during a ride down a Marana street. He missed the first five weeks of the season. After rehab, he finished the year with an 0-2 record and 6.35 ERA. In 2008, he is 6-3 with a 3.07 ERA.

"My accident really helped put everything in perspective for me, helped me realize my ability and how far I can go with it," Perry said. "It just put me in the right direction. I worked much harder because of it."

Schlereth, son of 12-year NFL veteran Mark Schlereth, overcame his own adversity. He underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow after his senior year of high school.

"The doctors did a marvelous job with that," he said. "I haven't had any problems."

Schlereth has a 1.81 ERA and struck out 76 in 54 2/3 innings. He said he thought the Seattle Mariners or the San Diego Padres would draft him and that the D-backs "popped out of nowhere."

Schlereth expressed confidence in his abilities and admitted feeling relief now that he is drafted with a super regional on the horizon.

"My feeling as a pitcher is I can get (to the majors) and help somebody by September, if not earlier, so that's my mind-set going into this whole thing; get there as fast as I can and help somebody's bullpen as fast as I can," he said.

D-backs scouting director Tom Allison said: "No question, one of Daniel's best attributes is his confidence in himself, and the way he holds himself, and the poise and his presence on the mound is terrific."

Steele said he will sign with the Astros, who also drafted him in the 22nd round in 2005 in his senior year of high school.

"I'm ready to play professional baseball," said Steele, who is hitting .314 and has stolen 24 bases in 26 attempts. "It's very exciting."

The super regional will have five players selected in the first round — Miami first baseman Yonder Alonso was the overall No. 7 pick, second baseman Jemile Weeks was No. 12, and right-hander Carlos Gutierrez was No. 27.

"It's a sense of fulfillment for those young guys," Lopez said of his players. "They work hard. It's kind of a little hidden dream I'm sure they have."