Northwoods Madison Mallards

Record Number of Former and Current Mallards Selected in Second Day of 2011 MLB Draft

June 8, 2011 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Madison Mallards News Release


Madison, WI - June 8, 2011. A record 14 former and current Mallards' players were taken in Tuesday's second day of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. Rounds 31 through 50 resumed today (more details will be posted at Mallardsbaseball.com on Thursday).

Highlighting the list are eight players from last year's squad, including right-handed pitcher J.R. Graham (Santa Clara), outfielder Kyle Gaedele (Valparaiso), slugger Harold Riggins (NC State), catcher Adam Davis (Illinois), pitcher Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech), right-handed pitcher Tyler Jones (LSU), infielder Josh Parr (Illinois), and catcher Rafael Lopez (Florida State).

Additional details about each player drafted are below: (in order of selection)

Round #4, #123 overall, Seattle Mariners

John Hicks (Virginia), 2009, Catcher

Hicks appeared in 35 games for the 2009 Mallards and went on to hit .273 with nine doubles, four home runs, and 17 RBI. Last summer he played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League and hit .222 with one home run and nine RBI.

Round #4, #146 overall, Atlanta Braves

J.R. Graham (Santa Clara), Pitcher

The hard-throwing Graham appeared in Madison for two summers ('09, '10) and enjoyed his best season last year in appearing in 22 games and accumulating a 2.76 ERA over 32.2 innings of work. This spring at Santa Clara he hit 100 mph on the radar gun a dozen times.

Round #6, #203 overall, San Diego Padres

Kyle Gaedele (Valparaiso), Outfielder

Gaedele spent only one summer in Madison ('10), but it was a magical one, in being named a Northwoods League Mid and Post-Season All-Star after hitting .315 with 14 doubles, five triples, nine home runs, and 38 RBI. A five-tool player, he also stole 26 bases.

Round #7, #228 overall, Colorado Rockies

Harold Riggins (NC State), Infielder

Mallards fans will never forget the sound that came off Riggins' bat as the powerful slugger appeared in Madison for two summers ('09, '10) and went on to hit 17 home runs to become the team's all-time home run king.

Round #11, #335 overall, Baltimore Orioles

Adam Davis (Illinois), Catcher

Davis played in Madison last summer and was named a NWL Mid and Post-Season All-Star. His season totals included a .328 batting average, 19 doubles, six home runs, and a team-high 44 RBI.

Round #11, #343 overall, Florida Marlins

Jacob Esch (Georgia Tech), Pitcher

Esch appeared in a Mallards uniform for two seasons ('09, '10) and has signed with the team for this summer as well. As a two-way player, he has been a great asset to use as a spot-starter, reliever, and infielder. This past spring Esch was the starting shortstop for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Round #11, #346 overall, Oakland Athletics

Chris Lamb (Davidson), Pitcher

Lamb is a member of this year's Mallards squad. This past spring he posted a 3.75 ERA over 81.2 innings pitched, including 12 starts.

Round #11, #358 overall, Minnesota Twins

Tyler Jones (LSU), Pitcher

Jones transferred to LSU from Madison College prior to last season and he pitched for the Mallards in 2010. Over 64.1 innings pitched, including 10 starts, he posted a 2.80 ERA.

Round #12, #364 overall, Arizona Diamondbacks

Josh Parr (Illinois), Infielder

Parr was arguably the Mallards most consistent player last summer and was named a NWL Mid and Post-Season All-Star for an impressive resume that included a .307 average, 16 doubles, three triples, 28 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. He has been signed to play in Madison again this summer.

Round #14, #441 overall, Chicago White Sox

Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State), Infielder

Ginther was named a NWL Mid-Season All-Star in 2009 after hitting .254 with seven doubles, five home runs, and eight RBI over 31 games.

Round #16, #489 overall, Chicago Cubs

Rafael Lopez (Florida State), Catcher

Lopez appeared in Madison for one summer in 2010 and went on to hit .344 with 14 doubles, four home runs, and 30 RBI over 37 games.

Round #21, #651 overall, Chicago White Sox

Joe De Pinto (USC), Infielder

De Pinto was a solid contributor for the Mallards for two seasons ('08, '09) and enjoyed his finest season in 2009 as he hit .272 with eight doubles, two home runs, and 15 RBI.

Round #26, #804 overall, Texas Rangers

Ryan Bores (Cuyahoga Community College), Pitcher

Bores is a member of this summer's Mallards squad and has made one start (June 4) during which he went six innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits for the victory.

Round #30, #930 overall, Tampa Bay Rays

Chris Burgess (Blackhawk College), Pitcher

Also a member of the 2011 Mallards, Burgess has appeared in two games for the team this summer, including one start on June 2 against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. In that game he was lights-out, in throwing seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight hitters.



Northwoods League Stories from June 8, 2011


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