CSN’s Bickford goes No. 18 overall to World Champs

College of Southern Nevada pitcher Phil Bickford smiles during an interview at Morse Stadium at the Henderson campus of CSN on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. Bickford is expected to be one of the top picks in the Major League Baseball draft. (David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

College of Southern Nevada pitcher Phil Bickford looks on at Morse Stadium at the Henderson campus of CSN on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. Bickford is expected to be one of the top picks in the Major League Baseball draft. (David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Former College of Southern Nevada right-hander Phil Bickford was drafted today in the first round and 18th overall by the San Francisco Giants.

Bickford (6 feet 4 inches, 205 pounds) could be a starter or a reliever at the next level. At CSN this past season, he went 9-1 with a 1.45 ERA, striking out 166 batters in 86 2/3 innings.

He relied mostly on a fastball that routinely reached the mid-90s.

“His mechanics are all over the place,” MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds said shortly after the selection was made. “Sounds a lot like (Tim) Lincecum. I don’t think the Giants are worried about fixing things.”

News broke earlier in the day when Baseball America reported that Bickford tested positive for marijuana, but it obviously didn’t hurt his prospects. Bickford was expected to a few spots lower than where he wound up.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65