Eight Clams Picked from Sea of Amateur Ranks
June 15, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The 2016 Major League Baseball Draft saw eight more Steamers alumni added their names to a long list of professional players, who have came through Edenton. Current players Devan Watts and Michael Messier were among those picked up in this year's draft.
Watts, a junior from Tusculum College (TN), was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 17th round. The right-handed pitcher spent last summer with the Teal and Black as well, maintaining a 3.96 ERA with 32 strikeouts to 12 walks over 25 regular- season innings. The Mooresville, NC native also pitched the Petitt Cup-clinching inning against Gastonia. Watts only made three appearances with the Steamers this summer. He held a 2.25 ERA and 1-0 record, striking out four over four innings of work and one save.
The Kansas City Royals drafted Messier, a left-handed pitcher from Bellarmine University (KY), in the 15th round. The Milton, GA native made two starts for Edenton this summer. Messier struck out ten batters and walked three over ten innings of work, leaving with a 0-1 record and 3.60 ERA.
Six other Steamers from last year's Petitt Cup championship team, including Jeremy Walker, Matt Festa, Mick Fennell, Cole Gruber, Chad Sedio and David Bednar, were also selected in this year's draft.
Pitchers Jeremy Walker and Matt Festa were the ttwo Steamers taken in the top 10 rounds. Walker, a righty out of Gardner-Webb University (NC), was picked up by the Atlanta Braves in round five, while Festa was taken in the seventh round by the Seattle Mariners.
Mick Fennell got his call in the 22nd round. The utility man from California University of Pennsylvania went to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Cole Gruber and Chad Sedio came next, both drafted in the 27th round. Gruber, a center fielder, for the University of Nebraska-Omaha, was taken by the Oakland Athletics; and the Detroit Tigers selected Sedio three picks later.
David Bednar, right-handed pitcher out of Lafayette College (PA), was the final Steamer selected. The Valencia, PA native got his call from the San Diego Padres in round 35.
The Edenton Steamers extend their congratulations to these alumni on their hard work and accomplishments thus far and wish them good luck in their professional careers.
Coastal Plain League Stories from June 15, 2016
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