Seven PSAC Baseball Athletes Drafted in 2013 Major League Baseball Draft
MLB Draft Central
SECAUCUS, N.J. – Seven baseball players from around the PSAC were selected by Major League Baseball clubs during the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft held in Secaucus, N.J. and announced by legendary Dodgers' manager and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tommy Lasorda.
Seven marks the most PSAC draft selections since 2000 and one short of the conference record of eight, set in 1969. PSAC MLB Draft History
Nick Keener, Mansfield - Mansfield University right-handed pitcher Nick Keener was the 304
th overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10
th round. Keener becomes the first Mountaineer to be selected by an MLB team since Eric Baker was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 28
th round during the 2005 draft. His 10
th round selection is the highest for a Mansfield athlete since Tim Persing was taken in the seventh round in 1990 by the Minnesota Twins.
The selection makes Keener the 51st Mountaineer baseball player to be drafted to a professional organization since 1969. It marks the 28
th time a player under the tutelage of Mansfield head coach Harry Hillson has been drafted into the professional ranks since taking over the program in 1987.
Full Mansfield Story
Lou Trivino, Slippery Rock -
The Oakland Athletics on Saturday made Slippery Rock University junior pitcher Lou Trivino their 11th-round pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Trivino, the 341st player selected in this year's draft, was the first Rock baseball player drafted since catcher-first baseman Matt Adams was selected in the 23rd round (699th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2009 draft.
Trivino was the second Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference player selected in this year's draft, behind only Mansfield University pitcher Nick Keener, the 10th-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A native of Green Lane, Pa., and graduate of Upper Bucks Christian High School, Trivino has one collegiate season of eligibility remaining, but is expected to sign a professional contract in the next few days. Full Slippery Rock Story
Tim Mayza, Millersville - Tim Mayza
is a step closer to living his dream. Millersville's junior All-America pitcher was selected Saturday by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Mayza is the sixth Marauder ever chosen in the draft.
Mayza, picked 355th overall, joins Glenn Stitzel (1968), Jim Todd (1969), Philip Rossi (1977), Matt Knox (2001), and Derek Kline (2009) as Millersville players selected. His draft position is the highest for a Millersville player since Todd went in the 10th round. Todd pitched six years in the majors. Full Millersville Story
Joe Gunkel, West Chester -
West Chester University junior right-handed pitcher Joe Gunkel was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round (533rd pick) of the 2013 MLB First-Year Entry Draft Saturday afternoon. Gunkel is the fourth Golden Rams baseball player to be drafted in the last seven years. Left-handed pitcher Frank Gailey was a 23rd-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007, Bob Stumpo, was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 33rd round in 2010 and Joe Wendle was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the sixth round last June. All three are still active in the minor leagues.
Gunkel is the 29th West Chester University player selected in the major league baseball draft since its inception in 1965 and the first right-hand pitcher taken since Joe Turek in 1987. Since the draft was implemented, three former Golden Rams have reached the major leagues. Lance Clemons was picked in the seventh round of the 1967 draft while Pat Kelly was a ninth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 1988, and Mabry was a sixth-rounder by the Cardinals in 1991. Full West Chester Story
Zak Blair, Mercyhurst -
Former Mercyhurst University shortstop Zak Blair, who just completed his final season in a Laker baseball uniform last month, will be continuing his baseball playing career in the Chicago Cubs organization. On Saturday afternoon, Blair became the 14th Mercyhurst player in the history of the progam to be taken in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, when he was selected as the second pick of the 20th round (588th overall) by the Chicago Cubs.
Blair is the first Laker drafted since 2011 when lefthanded pitcher Nick Gillung was selected in the 19th round (590th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals. He becomes the seventh-highest Laker drafted and the second-ever drafted by the Chicago Cubs organization (Steve Grife, 2009). Full Mercyhurst Story
Kyle Petty, California - Former California University of Pennsylvania standout Kyle Petty was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2013 MLB Draft on Saturday afternoon, becoming the first Vulcan in nearly two decades to be selected in the MLB Draft.
Petty was selected with the 11th pick of the 23rd round, 687th overall, and is one of eight Cal U players to ever be chosen in the MLB Draft. He is the first Vulcan selected in the draft since 1995 when catcher Steve Flanigan was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 21st round (573rd overall). Pitcher Rick Krivda, one of three players in school history to reach the major leagues, was selected in the 23rd round (602nd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 1991. Full California Story
Joe Bennie, East Stroudsburg -
East Stroudsburg University second baseman Joe Bennie was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 28th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Saturday, becoming the fourth player drafted in school history.
Bennie, who led the Warriors to the PSAC championship in his only season at ESU after transferring from Division I La Salle, was the 851st pick in the draft. He is the third Warrior to be selected in the MLB Draft in the last five years, joining outfielder Mark Angelo (2009, 44th round, Seattle) and left-handed pitcher Jeremy Gigliotti (2011, 19th round, San Diego). Pitcher Joel Bennett was ESU's first MLB Draft choice in 1991 (21st round, Boston). Full East Stroudsburg Story