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Eau Claire Express

Express Well Represented in MLB Draft

June 9, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Eau Claire Express News Release


Dream big. Work hard. That is sound advice for any youngster looking to become a professional baseball player.

While many, in fact, the majority of players who have ever suited up in a baseball uniform fail to seek the attention of a Major League team, some of them have their childhood dreams come true.

Two current Express players, outfielder Charlie White and left-handed pitcher Jared Dettman, saw those dreams come true Saturday as their names were called in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.

Dettman, a Somerset, Wis., native who just aided Century Community College (Minn.) to an NJCAA College World Series appearance, was drafted in the 17th round by the Atlanta Braves.

Dettman, who was an all-state honoree and the 2011 Pioneer Press Player of the Year for Somerset High School, was also drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins in the 46th round.

He turned down the opportunity to play for the Twins out of high school and attended the University of Connecticut his freshman year before transferring to Century. He moved up 29 rounds in just two short years and he credits that to gaining more control of the strike zone.

"In high school, I was a little wild," Dettman said. "I think a big difference is that I have better command of all my pitches."

Dettman got the call from his pitching coach, Randy Briesacher, at Century Saturday afternoon, and it was a call he'll never forget.

"It was awesome," Dettman said. "I talked to him (Briesacher) early in the morning and he said he'd call me in the afternoon if I got drafted. When I saw his name pop up, it was pretty exciting and a good feeling."

He said it was an honor to be selected by the Braves, a team that has been a regular in the MLB postseason for the past couple of decades.

"It's definitely an honor," Dettman said. "If I do end up signing with them, it's going to be a lot of fun and it would be a real honor to play for them."

Dettman is still up in the air whether he will be signing with the Braves or staying with the Express.

The New York Yankees, arguably the most storied and successful franchise in the history of sports, picked up White, a speedy centerfielder out of the University of Maryland, in the 29th round. After a standout redshirt sophomore season at the University of Maryland where he was fourth in the NCAA in stolen bases and hit a whopping .350 in the tough Atlantic Coast Conference, he became known to scouts across the country.

"Before going into this year, I wasn't really well-known," White said. "After having a good year and putting up some solid numbers, I'm sure my draft stock went up and my name was well-known around the baseball world."

White found out from his teammate Jake Cole, who had his phone open to the draft updates and excitedly informed Charlie during batting practice yesterday. White then got a phone call confirming the Yankees selected him.

"It's something I've worked towards my whole life," White said. "It was an awesome feeling receiving the phone call from the Yankees and knowing I was drafted."

Like Dettman, White is honored to been noticed by a baseball team with great tradition.

"They're one of the best organizations out there, so it is just a huge honor," White said.

The St. Louis Cardinals took 2013 Express signee Michael Holback, a pitcher who is still in school at Cal Poly, in the 25th round of the draft.

Former Express players were well represented in the MLB draft as well. Garrett Custons, Phillip Walby, Alex Alibritton, Jimmy Allen, Drew Ghelfi, Devin Moore, Matt Southard, Brandon Peterson, Cal Towey, Jake Morris and Harvey Martin were all selected in the 40-round draft as well.

There is currently one Express player in the big leagues right now, and that is pitcher Jordan Zimmermann of the Washington Nationals, who has established himself as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in 2013, as he is tied for second in baseball with eight wins.

Regardless of whether any of these players make it the ultimate big stage, they can always say a Major League team drafted them.

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