NECBL Alumni Well Represented in 2019 MLB Draft
Published on June 8, 2019 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) News Release
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Paced by a league-most 18 selections by the Newport Gulls, one of three teams with double-digit draftees, the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) once again had a stellar showing in the 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft, which took place earlier this week.
In total, the league saw just under the century mark of its alumni drafted by one of the MLB's 30 franchises. In total, 94 NECBL alumni saw their name called either in the draft or as free agent signees shortly after the event concluded.
Newport's 18 selections were the most by any of the league's current or former organizations, followed by the Keene Swamp Bats (12) and Plymouth Pilgrims (10). Perhaps most impressive was the fact that every NECBL program had at least three draftees.
"It is extremely humbling to see the high quantity of New England League alumni that litter the draft board each year," commissioner Sean McGrath stated. "While we strive to do so much as a league and I know our general managers work hard to put together competitive rosters each and every summer full of outstanding human beings and student-athletes who make their communities that much better, we also have an obligation to put these young men in position to pursue their dream of playing professionally. We have soundly done that once again and our track record for being one of the most competitive leagues filled with the stars of tomorrow has never been more prominently on display. The best of luck to each of them as they pursue the first chapter of what will hopefully be long professional baseball careers!"
Three Gulls got the showcase started, highlighted by 2017 alumnus JJ Bleday, an outfielder, going fourth overall to the Miami Marlins. He was followed by Kody Hoese, who was with the Gulls last summer and went to the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 25th overall pick. Finally, the Marlins selected 2017 Newport alumnus Kameron Misner, another outfielder, in the first CBA round. After those three, more than 90 other NECBL alumni followed.
A league-high eight players were drafted by the Detroit Tigers, while six had their name called by the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.
Equally impressive was the fact that 41 players were taken before the 20th round, while 70 players have been part of the New England League over the last two summers, including 30 from the 2018 campaign and 40 from 2017.
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the NECBL started play in 1994 and is enjoying its 25th-year anniversary season this summer. The New England League has sent nearly 150 alumni to the Major Leagues and has had nearly 100 alumni drafted in each of the last 10 Major League Baseball Drafts. The New England League was recently ranked No. 2 in the Summer Baseball Register's Top-10 collegiate summer baseball leagues in the country. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 8, 2019
- SteepleCats Make It 3 - North Adams SteepleCats
- Mainers Take Tough-Luck Loss to Schooners - Sanford Mainers
- New Extra Inning Rule Adds Drama as Bay Sox Drop Home Opener 3-1 to Gulls - New Bedford Bay Sox
- NECBL Alumni Well Represented in 2019 MLB Draft - NECBL
- SteepleCats Start Hot - North Adams SteepleCats
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