12 Westerners Get "The Call"
June 9, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Danbury Westerners News Release
The Danbury Westerners, the longest tenured team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, proudly announce the drafting of 12 alumnae by Major League Baseball teams, a record number for the franchise.
Pitcher Jake Stinnett (DW-12) was the first Westerner and the third NECBL alum drafted, when he was chosen 45th overall by the Chicago Cubs out of the University of Maryland. Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins announced Stinnett's name on MLB Network's coverage of the draft. He was the only Westerner taken on Day 1.
While no Westerners were taken on Day 2, Day 3 was a very good day to be a former Danbury Westerner. Eleven picks were announced live on MLB.com
Stinnett's Maryland and Danbury teammate Ben Brewster (DW-12) was taken by the Chicago White Sox in Round 15 with the 438th pick.
Two rounds later, the Tampa Bay Rays selected SUNY-Oneonta pitcher Steve Ascher (DW-13) with the 517th pick.
The Detroit Tigers chose University of Kentucky catcher Michael Thomas (DW-12) in the 22nd round with the 670th pick.
The Westerners had two 23rd round selections, as East Tennessee State shortstop Chris Riopedre (DW-13) and Oklahoma State first baseman Tanner Krietemeier (DW-11) were chosen by the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves with the 694th and 703rd picks, respectively.
Six picks later, in the 24th round, NECBL All-Star centerfielder Daniel Spingola (DW-12,13) from Georgia Tech joined Jake Stinnett on the Chicago Cubs.
With the 751st pick in the 25th round, current Westerner pitcher Brandon Bonilla (DW-13,14) was drafted out of Grand Canyon University by the Baltimore Orioles. Bonilla is the son of former major league outfielder Bobby Bonilla and the godson of Major League Baseball's all-time home run leader Barry Bonds.
The Miami Marlins selected Nick Williams (DW-11), a pitcher from Tennessee in the 26th round with the 767th overall pick.
Finally, three Westerners were chosen in the 31st round. Southern New Hampshire infielder Riley Palmer (DW-13) and pitcher Derrick Sylvester (DW-11) went to the Baltimore Orioles with the 931st pick, and the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 939th pick. Sandwiched between them with the 935th pick in the draft is Joshua Palacios (DW-14), an outfielder for San Jacinto College North who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds.
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- 12 Westerners Get "The Call" - Danbury Westerners
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