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| Photo Credit: Stonehill Athletics |
Yesterday set the wheels in motion, but day 3 featured numerous Long Islanders selected in the MLB Draft. In addition to the traditional stats, I’ll try and provide some insight on the players that I have played with or against.
It got started in the 17th round when Tampa Bay selected Cutchogue native Steve Ascher (SUNY Oneonta). They had also selected Chris Pike on Saturday and Stephen Woods of Hills East last season. Ascher is a graduate of Mattituck HS. He led the Oneonta Red Dragons in several pitching statistics this year including a 1.69 ERA in 69.1 innings. He fanned 82 batters against only 20 walks. He held batters to a paltry .193 average on his way to a 6-4 season.
Next was Ronkonkoma native James Lomangino (St. John’s University). He was selected in the 18th round, No. 533 overall by Colorado. He actually was selected in the 14th round last season. While it’s easy to second guess his decision now, he did nothing to hurt his stock with his performance. He started 15 games this season, compiled a 3.65 ERA and led the team with 85 strikeouts in 91.1 innings. I played with James in the summer of 2008 when we were both vying for scholarships. He has improved exponentially since that summer, when he relied primarily on his 86-88 mph fastball. In addition to increasing the velo a few ticks, he also improved his command and the consistency on his secondary pitches.
Fourteen picks later, Tampa Bay selected Holbrook native Alec Sole (Saint Louis University). Sole made a name for himself in 2011, when he led Sachem North to the Suffolk County championship and won the Carl Yastrzemski Award by hitting .505 with 28 RBI and went 6-2 with a 1.23 ERA on the hill. This season he played exclusively at shortstop while leading the team with a .352 average and compiled .419 OBP and 10 steals in 179 at bats.
In the next round, just 19 picks later the Toronto Blue Jays selected Cliff Brantley (Adelphi University). Brantley resides in Staten Island but transferred to Adelphi prior to this season. I wrote this feature on him during the season, when it was clear he was not just off to a hot start. He hit .401 in the regular season, with an incredible 76 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, 24 stolen bases and .433 OBP. He was the first position player selected from Adelphi since Dom Gatti in 1993. He was the highest selection from Adelphi since Keith Couch in 2010. I watched him play one game this season, and he smacked three hits. He is a speedster that knows how to utilize it. He can hit to all fields, and although there is not much power, he will succeed at the next level if he can sustain the line drive ability he showed this season.
With their 20th round pick, the New York Mets selected Garden City native Jim Duff (Stonehill College). He is only the second player in program history to be drafted. Duff, a 6’6″ righthander, had a standout season. He compiled an 8-2 record with 1.84 ERA. In 83 innings he struck out 62 and walked only five. According to ESPN NY, he throws 86-90 and the Mets scouts were intrigued by his combination of size and strike throwing ability. The moment was made all the more sweeter considering he grew up as a Mets fan.
In the 24th round, the Mets selected Mount Sinai native Tyler Badamo (Dowling College). I wrote extensively about him this year, in which he earned First-Team All-American honors for his light-out year. In 108.1 innings, he struck out 129 and compiled a 0.83 ERA with a 9-3 record. He made waves for putting together a streak of 72 innings in which he did not yield an earned run. He averaged eight innings per start, so clearly he is a workhorse. In the one game I watched, he struck out 17 and walked none against Queens College. Most impressively, he threw 76 percent strikes and threw all four pitches for strikes. The 6’2″ right handed pitcher with a 6:1 strikeout to walk ratio will most likely head to the Brooklyn Cyclones after signing.
Three rounds and 81 picks later the Houston Astros selected Brandon McNitt (Stony Brook University). They appear to like Sea Wolves, they drafted Nick Tropeano in the fifth round in 2011. McNitt is from California but found a home in the Stony Brook rotation for four years. In 2014 he compiled an 8-1 record in 71.2 innings with a 2.89 ERA. He struck out 71 and walked 22 batters while holding the opposition to a .243 average. He is a workhorse; he threw 101 innings in 2013, 104 innings during the now-famous 2012 season and 79 innings as a freshman.
In the 40th and final round, the Philadelphia Phillies selected Jesse Berardi (Commack HS). Ironically, the Phillies selected Commack C Charles Galiano in the 36th round of 2012 draft. I’ve never watched him play, but the shortstop was widely regarded as the best prospect on Long Island, known for his defensive prowess and gap-to-gap hitting ability. He did hit four home runs this year and led the Cougars to a 15-10 record. The 5’10” infielder is committed to St. John’s University. It would stand to reason he will head there in the fall.
In total, 11 players that either are Long Island natives or play college ball here were selected in the draft. Berardi was the lone high school player despite Jack Piekos of Bayport-Blue Point and Adam Heidenfelder of MacArthur being rumored to join him.
For the college seniors who were not drafted, there is always the undrafted free agent signing period. For the college juniors who do not sign, there is always the spring of 2015 to improve your draft stock. For everyone else with draft aspirations, just remember Johnny Manziel got drafted and he didn’t have one at bat this season.
