After a record-setting first day with three BIG EAST players being selected in the first round, 23 more players were taken in the second day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. Through two days, the BIG EAST has had 26 players selected. The most BIG EAST players taken in one draft was 35 last year. The MLB First-Year Player Draft will conclude on Wednesday with rounds 31-50.
Connecticut had six players selected on the second day, including shortstop Nick Ahmed, who was the highest BIG EAST player drafted on day two with the 85th overall pick to the Atlanta Braves. Outfielder John Andreoli was taken in the 17th round with the 519th pick by the Chicago Cubs, while lefthander Greg Nappo was taken in the 18th round by the Florida Marlins. Nappo was the Clemson Regional MVP. Closer Kevin Vance was taken in the 19th round by the Chicago White Sox, first baseman Mike Nemeth was drafted in the 21st round by the Milwaukee Brewers and reliever David Fischer was selected in the 30th round by the San Francisco Giants.
USF also five players drafted including four pitchers in righthanders Kevin Quackenbush, Jim Moran and Randy Fontanez, and lefty Junior Carlin. Quackenbush, who finished his career with 11 saves in BIG EAST play, was taken in the eighth round by the San Diego Padres, while Moran was selected in the 18th round by the Cincinnati Reds. Carlin went in the 20th round to the Los Angeles Angels and Fontanez was taken in the 27th round by the New York Mets. Infielder Jonathan Koscso was selected in the 29th round by the Tampa Bay Rays
Louisville had three players taken on day two, with righthander Tony Zych going in the fourth round to the Chicago Cubs, second baseman Ryan Wright selected in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Reds and righthander Derek Self taken in the 27th round by the Oakland Athletics. Pittsburgh had two players drafted on the second day. Catcher Kevan Smith and reliever Ray Black were taken just six picks apart in the seventh round, with Smith going 231st overall to the Chicago White Sox and Black going 237th overall to the San Francisco Giants.
Other BIG EAST selections included Villanova righthander Kyle McMyne (fourth round), Notre Dame righthander Brian Dupra (seventh round), Cincinnati righthander Dan Jensen (20th round), Seton Hall righthander Joe DiRocco (21st round), Georgetown catcher Erick Fernandez (25th round), St. John’s first baseman Paul Karmas (25th round) and West Virginia shortstop Grant Buckner (26th round).
Rd/Pk. Player, Position, School Team
1/11 George Springer, OF, Connecticut Houston Astros
1/19 Matt Barnes, RHP, Connecticut Boston Red Sox
1/29 Joe Panik, SS, St. John’s San Francisco Giants
2/85 Nick Ahmed, SS, Connecticut Atlanta Braves
4/129 Tony Zych, RHP, Louisville Chicago Cubs
4/145 Kyle McMyne, RHP, Villanova Cincinnati Reds
5/175 Ryan Wright, 2B, Louisville Cincinnati Reds
7/217 Brian Dupra, RHP, Notre Dame Washington Nationals
7/231 Kevan Smith, C, Pittsburgh Chicago White Sox
7/237 Raymond Black, RHP, Pittsburgh San Francisco Giants
8/263 Kevin Quackenbush, RHP, USF San Diego Padres
17/519 John Andreoli, OF, Connecticut Chicago Cubs
18/553 Greg Nappo, LHP, Connecticut Florida Marlins
18/565 Jim Moran, RHP, USF Cincinnati Reds
19/591 Kevin Vance, RHP, Connecticut Chicago White Sox
20/615 Junior Carlin, LHP, USF Los Angeles Angels
20/625 Dan Jensen, RHP, Cincinnati Cincinnati Reds
21/633 Joe DiRocco, RHP, Seton Hall Seattle Mariners
21/641 Mike Nemeth, 1B, Connecticut Milwaukee Brewers
25/757 Erick Fernandez, C, Georgetown Washington Nationals
25/773 Paul Karmas, 1B, St. John’s San Diego Padres
26/801 Grant Buckner, SS, West Virginia Chicago White Sox
27/822 Randy Fontanez, RHP, USF New York Mets
27/826 Derek Self, RHP, Louisville Oakland Athletics
29/900 Jonathan Koscso, IF, USF Tampa Bay Rays
30/927 David Fischer, RHP, Connecticut San Francisco Giants
