Roy Taken by Pirates in MLB First-Year

June 9, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Rhode Island outfielder and 2012 North Adams SteepleCat All-Star Jeff Roy was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round (539th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft, becoming the 79th player in franchise history to join the professional ranks.

Roy - who shattered several offensive records en route to becoming the first player in NECBL history to steal more than 20 bases and hit more than 10 doubles - joins 2011 North Adams alumnus Brian Gilbert in the Class of 2013 draft class after the latter was taken by the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

"Jeff Roy was one of my favorite players from any year," exclaimed team President Dan Bosley. "I talked to him today and offered our congratulations from the SteepleCats family. He made two of the most memorable catches in our playoffs that I have ever seen on any level of baseball. We all wish him the best of luck for his future."

In his only summer in the Berkshires, Roy made it count, ranking second on the team with a .333 batting average on a team-best 48 hits and 11 doubles while setting single-season SteepleCat records in runs scored (40) and stolen bases (24).

A 2013 Preseason All-American, Roy - who was a perfect 30-30 in stolen base attempts this season at URI, and was one of only two players with more than 18 stolen bases nationwide to go perfect on the base paths.

Over the course of his junior campaign, the Cranston, R.I., native totaled 65 hits, 45 runs scored and 138 putouts in centerfield. He is a .327 career hitter who has combined for a .429 slugging percentage and a .416 on-base percentage as well as 199 hits, 139 runs, 70 RBI and 61 stolen bases in three seasons with the Rams.

The deadline for 2013 draft picks to sign is July 12, 2013.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 9, 2013


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