Major League Baseball selects Jones, Martz and Morales in Draft

Videographer: NorthLouisianaRon; 2011 SWAC Baseball Tournament - Championship Game Slideshow

Rodarrick Jones (6-0/195), Southern University, Pittsburg Pirates

June 7, 2011: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 37th round, 1112th overall pick. Baseball America chose Jones as the #3 prospect in the New York Collegiate League in the summer of 2009, following his strong season at the University of New Orleans. He’s also a football standout and is athletic with good speed. His hitting fell off in 2010, though, and he transferred to Southern University. He was on the team’s roster but didn’t play, possibly due to ineligibility. He’s obviously very toolsy, but also obviously has some significant holes in his swing. Given the circumstances, there’s probably a good chance of him signing. If he does, he’ll be a project.

Chretien Martz, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Detroit Tigers

University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions baseball player Chretien Matz was selected in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers. Last season Matz was a standout on the Golden Lions baseball team leading the squad in batting average (.352) while ranking 5th in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. For his outstanding play on the diamond the Illinois native was chosen as a member of the SWAC's 2011 All-Conference First Team as an outfielder.

Julio Morales, Bethune-Cookman University, Kansas City Royals

Adding to the count of Bethune-Cookman baseball players selected in the draft, the Wildcats add one more for 2011, with the selection of senior RHP Julio Morales in the 45th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

“Julio is a pitcher that has great resources,” said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. “He throws a fastball in the high 80s, low 90s, and his breaking ball and change-up are really good pitches. I think he is definitely going to excel at that level, and look for him to have a good pro career.”

Morales appeared in 23 games during his two-year stint with the Wildcats. He finished with a career record of 3-4, collecting 49 strikeouts, in 43 innings pitched.Originally from San Juan Puerto Rico, Morales transferred to B-CU from Wabash Valley Junior College before the 2010 season. Morales joins B-CU catcher Peter O’Brien as the second Wildcats drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft. O’Brien was selected 17th in the third round on June 7.

Bethune-Cookman's Peter O'Brien selected by Colorado Rockies in 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft

Daytona Beach, FL - Bethune-Cookman University catcher Peter O'Brien became the first area player selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday, chosen with the 107th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies. O'Brien, a junior catcher for the Wildcats and a Miami native, was selected in the middle of the third round. This season he helped lead Bethune-Cookman to another NCAA Regionals appearance, batting .304 with 14 home runs and 69 RBIs.

"It's awesome and I'm so excited," O'Brien said by phone, a few minutes after being chosen. "It was a hectic time but I'm glad its over." O'Brien said the Rockies were one of the most interested teams in him this spring.



Peter O'Brien, C: Rockies third round selection / 107th overall out of Bethune-Cookman University

O'Brien, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, spent three seasons at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, FL where he started all 61 games behind the plate for the Wildcats in 2011. In his junior season, O'Brien hit .304 (70-for-230) with 29 extra-base hits, including a team-high 14 home runs. O'Brien led the Wildcats with 20 home runs and a .384 batting average and picked off nine runners and catching 20 attempted base stealers during his sophomore season. He also drove in 56 RBI 2010. O'Brien was also named the MEAC Player of the Year following his sophomore season. O'Brien was rated the 13th-best prospect in the state of Florida, and the 103rd-best prospect overall in the draft by Baseball America. Additionally, he was ranked the seventh-best catcher available in the draft by Baseball America.

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Oakland Athletics select North Carolina A&T slugger Xavier Macklin in 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft

Xavier Macklin

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina A&T slugger Xavier Macklin is a member of the Oakland Athletics organization. On the second day of the First-Year Major League Baseball Player Draft, Macklin was selected in the 12th round as the 376th pick. Macklin is the first Aggie taken in the draft since the St. Louis Cardinals selected C.J. Beatty in the 26th round in 2009.

Macklin, a junior out of Rocky Mount, N.C., posted impressive power numbers throughout his Aggies career. He hit .357 with 49 home runs and 183 RBIs as he set school marks in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage. Macklin's reputation for power can be measured in his .705 career slugging percentage. He ends his collegiate career with three first-team All-MEAC honors.

Macklin said he was informed about being drafted at approximately 5 p.m. Apprehension and nervousness drove him away from following the draft hours before the Athletics selected him. Macklin received a phone call from a friend notifying him of the good news. A local A's scout who lives in Greensboro made the official call for the organization.

"I can't describe this feeling right now," said Macklin. "It's crazy. It's surreal. It's like I'm not even here right now."

The 2011 season solidified Macklin's status as a MLB prospect. He hit .355 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs. Nationally, he ranks second in home runs and home runs per game. He owns the fourth-best slugging percentage in the nation and his RBIs per game ranks him 11th.

"He really deserves this," said N.C. A&T head coach Keith Shumate. "People recognize how much talent this young man has, but I don't think people know how hard he worked to get to this point. He had a legendary career at A&T."

Macklin is one of only two MEAC players who have been selected thus far. Bethune-Cookman catcher Peter O'Brien went in the third round to the Colorado Rockies. Macklin becomes the seventh player under Shumate to be taken in the MLB Draft. He is the fourth Aggie in the last five years to be selected, and earned the second highest draft position of any Aggie selected during the Shumate era. Duron LaGrande was drafted in the 10th round by the Montreal Expos in 2004.

Courtesy: NC A&T Sports Information

St. Aug's star looks to MLB draft

Rashaad Ingram

RALEIGH, NC -- When Rashaad Ingram stepped on first base, opposing infielders adjusted their stances and automatically anticipated a steal. Everyone knew the 6-foot speedster from St. Augustine's intended on taking an extra base. Or two. Or three.

Coaches tried signaling. Pitchers tried pitch-outs. Catchers tried throwing him out.

"No offense to any catcher out there," Ingram said. "They really don't have a chance. ... I'm stealing off the pitcher. I'm reading moves. It's something that comes natural to me." Ingram gave teams plenty of chances to throw him out in four seasons with the Falcons. Few ever caught him in the act, allowing the senior to finish his collegiate career with 186 stolen bases in 206 attempts.

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