So, I was teaching my little 9th grade Rosslynites a few weeks ago when the warm up question was "What are you looking forward to?" "Summer" was not an acceptable answer. We went around the room, each student mentioning something like going to the states for a trip, or going to Mombasa, and things of that ilk.
They then turned the question on me- what are YOU looking forward to, Mr. Leonard? The answer that leapt to mind was the MLB draft. (My class sat, staring, with no idea what I was talking about. Kids in East Africa don't typically know much about baseball.)
If you're reading this blog, though, you know why I would love the draft- it's when I find out which former Valley Leaguers will have the opportunity to play professional baseball, which then means that I will follow the rest of their careers, celebrating when they are named to a prospect list, or when they eventually play in the major leagues (free Clint Robinson!!!).
Well, the draft began on Monday, June 4, with the first and first supplemental (sandwich?) rounds. Rounds 2-15 were held on Tuesday, June 5, with the remaining rounds (16-40) to be held today, June 6.
So here, without further ado, are the former Valley League players who were drafted in the first 15 rounds. (And by the way, I have NOT checked the 2012 rosters yet, so I may be missing one or two, or even more. If you know any more, dear reader, please let me know in the comments.
2012 Drafted Players
Round, Pick, Name, College, VL Team, ML Team
3 115 Johnathan (Mac) Williamson, Wake Forest (Harrisonburg 2011)- San Francisco Giants
5 168 Matt Wessinger, St. John's (Fauquier 2009)- Colorado Rockies
6 205 Eric Phillips, Georgia Southern (Luray 2010-11)- Toronto Blue Jays
6 207 Eric Stamets, Evansville (Haymarket 2010)- Los Angeles Angels
8 267 Austin Adams, South Florida (Staunton 2011)- Los Angeles Angels
8 271 Nathan Minnich, Shepherd (Winchester 2010-11)- Boston Red Sox
9 290 Richie Rodriguez, Eastern Kentucky (Covington 2009-11)- New York Mets
10 330 Jacob Wilson, Memphis (Luray 2009)- St. Louis Cardinals
10 337 Matt Snyder, Mississippi (Haymarket, Winchester 2011)- New York Yankees
12 394 Julio Felix, Pima CC (Harrisonburg 2011)- Detroit Tigers
13 399 Brian Holmes, Wake Forest (Harrisonburg 2010)- Houston Astros
13 409 Stuart Pudenz, Dallas Baptist (Front Royal 2011)- Oakland A's
14 447 Sherman Johnson, Florida State (Covington 2009-10)- Los Angeles Angels
14 450 Anthony Melchionda, Boston College (Rockbridge 2009)- St. Louis Cardinals
15 469 Vincent Voiro, Penn (Woodstock 2010-11)- Oakland A's
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