Kansas baseball can build on MLB draft success

A pair of Kansas baseball players received exciting news last week. This kind of news should help coach Ritch Price in a big way.

For the first time in over ten year, two Kansas baseball players heard their names called in the top-ten rounds of the Major League draft. As a matter of fact, these two Jayhawk pitchers have a legitimate chance to make their dreams come true.

Left hander Blake Weiman is just a junior on the Kansas baseball team. The Pittsburg Pirates grabbed him in the eighth round. In round ten, the New York Mets took senior reliever Stephen Villines. If you follow major league baseball’s draft, you know it’s a huge process.

The Pirates selected 18 pitchers in the 40 rounds -Weiman was the fourth hurler they drafted. The 6-foot 4-inch, 208 pound Weiman knows how to start. He helped Kansas baseball in that role during his freshman and sophomore seasons. This past spring, Weiman moved into the bullpen with a 3.80 ERA in 30 games. David Slusser on Rum Bunter criticized the Pirates taking a reliever. On the other hand, teams always need someone to get outs.

Villines is one of 26 pitchers the Mets took on draft day. He signed over the weekend. He tallied 54 strikeouts and just 5 walks in 43.1 innings pitched for the Jayhawks this spring.

Kansas baseball coach Rich Price celebrated the good news.

"“Our bullpen was the strength of our team this season, evident by these two young men. I am absolutely thrilled for both guys.”"

More from Through the Phog

The success from year’s professional draft should help coach Price in recruiting. For one thing, it might be the key Price needs to get the Jayhawks a player or two who could bring home a Big 12 conference title.

Home/Kansas Jayhawks Baseball