San Diego Padres Take Whitehouse’s Mason House In Third Round

Whitehouse graduate Mason House has a lot to think about in the near future.

The high school center fielder and Oklahoma State signee was selected in the third round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday by the San Diego Padres. He has the choice to sign with the Padres organization as the draft's 78th overall pick, but that will force him to forfeit NCAA eligibility.

MLB.com predicts House will receive an offer of about $732,000 from the Padres. House will be able to negotiate with the franchise until 10:59 p.m. on Aug. 15.

If House does not like his final offer, or the organization, and attends Oklahoma State, he won't be eligible to be selected by an MLB team until he completes his junior season. That's an agreement the MLB and NCAA reached years ago to protect high level college baseball.

A third option, House could enroll at a junior college and would be eligible for next year's draft.

House was Whitehouse's power hitter in recent seasons. His senior year came to an end in the area round of the Class 5A state playoffs with a batting average of .409 through 24 games played and a slugging percentage of .833.

The center fielder recorded 31 RBIs, scored 26 runs, hit five home runs and netted another eight extra base hits in his final go-around with the Wildcats. He drew 22 walks and was intentionally walked six times.

With House, Whitehouse reached the 5A state semifinals in 2015.

Whitehouse is now celebrating two alumni being drafted in recent months. Former quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was taken 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs three seasons removed from his high school playing days.