Four Miners Selected in Second Day of MLB Draft
June 11, 2016 - Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
PALMER, Alaska -The second day of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft saw the selection of four Mat-Su Miner players, including three from the 2014 season.
"It was really exciting, these guys get a chance to play professional baseball," Miners head coach Ben Taylor said. "It's awesome when you see guys that you've coached reach some big goals and get a shot to reach their dream of getting to the major leagues."
Texas A&M right-handed pitcher Jace Vines heard his name called in the fourth round of the draft, when the Kansas City Royals selected the 6-foot-3-inch sophomore with the 133rd pick.
Vines appeared in 16 games for the Aggies this spring, recording 58 strikeouts and posting a 4.87 ERA.
Vines is currently a member of the Miners roster, but is competing for Texas A&M in the College Station Super Regional against TCU.
Just five picks later, the Cincinnati Red drafted Aggie teammate Ryan Hendrix in the fifth round. The junior pitcher wrapped up his collegiate career with a 4.79 ERA and 114 strikeouts.
Hendrix was a member of the Miners roster as a freshman in 2014. He started nine games on the mound and held Alaska Baseball League (ABL) opponents to 15 earned runs in 44 innings of work.
"Ryan is an intense competitor," Taylor said. "When you've got a big time fastball that goes 96 to 98 and a plus-plus curveball, you know he's got the chance to pitch in the big leagues for a long time."
The San Francisco Giants selected Pacific leftfielder Gio Brusa in the sixth round of the draft. The senior was chosen with the 185th pick after posting a batting average of .337 during the spring and leading the Tigers with 46 RBIs.
Brusa took home the ABL Home Run Derby title in 2014, besting Anchorage Glacier Pilots outfielder Jensen Park in the final round of the event.
"Gio is a tireless worker, and that's going to carry him a long way in this game," Taylor said. "He makes adjustments really fast and he's a really tough and competitive kid. He's going to have a long career."
The Miners final representation in the MLB Draft came in Grand Canyon infielder Paul Panaccione. The Washington Nationals selected the 5-foot-10-inch senior in the 10th round with the 304th pick.
Panaccione joined the Miners as a sophomore in 2014, appearing in 40 games and recording 45 hits.
"Paul is an unbelievable defender, he's another guy who's a huge competitor," Taylor said. "He can run, he can throw and he can pick it. I'm really happy for Paul."
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Alaska Baseball League Stories from June 11, 2016
- Four Miners Selected in Second Day of MLB Draft - Mat-Su Miners
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