Over 90 NECBL Alum Taken in 2015 MLB Draft
June 13, 2015 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) News Release
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Highlighted by a league-record 20 selections of former Newport alumni, the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) saw over 90 of its former student-athletes hear their names selected in the 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft, which was held from Monday through Wednesday (June 8-10) of this past week.
The Gulls paced the 12-team league with 20 selections of their former players, with Keene ranking second with 10 picks. North Adams boasted nine selections, while both Valley and Vermont saw eight of their alumni get the call, as well.
Danbury, New Bedford and Sanford each boasted six alumni who were drafted, followed by five apiece for Laconia, Mystic and Plymouth. Ocean State, along with Plymouth. Finally, Ocean State - which enters only its third year in franchise history alongside Plymouth - boasted four draft picks. Saratoga - a league member during the 2012 season - also had two alumni drafted, as well.
"As a league, our main slogan is to 'Keep Your Eye on the Dream,'" commissioner Sean McGrath stated. "This year's MLB Draft proved that saying resonates as strong as ever. I personally would like to extend congratulations on behalf of our entire league, our board of directors, and each of our franchises to the more-than-90 draftees who once called the NECBL their summer home. The best of luck to each of you as you pursue the first chapter of your professional baseball careers!"
On the first day of the Draft, which is comprised of the first and second rounds, as well as supplemental rounds for certain teams, the NECBL saw three alumni taken off the board. Former stars Chris Shaw (New Bed '13), Nathan Kirby (Keene '13) and Brett Lilek (Newport '13) all were top-50 overall picks and went to the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins, respectively.
Twenty more alumni heard their names called on Day 2 of the three-day, 40-round Draft. Valley's Josh Graham (Oregon) was the first to hear his name called in the fourth round (120th overall), followed by Laconia right-hander Mariano Rivera Jr. (Iona), the son of legendary New York Yankee closer and future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.
In total, 93 former players of the New England League were selected over the course of the Draft, marking a sharp increase from recent seasons. The NECBL annually averages about 80 selections per year in the Draft, and 2015's roundup was the most in a single draft by recent memory.
2015 MLB Draft Selections by NECBL Team
Newport - 20
Keene - 10
North Adams - 9
Valley - 8
Vermont - 8
Danbury - 6
New Bedford - 6
Sanford - 6
Laconia - 5
Mystic - 5
Plymouth - 5
Ocean State - 4
Saratoga - 2*
* = A league member for the 2012 season
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 13, 2015
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