Local Kids in The Draft

The Cincinnati Reds selected a pair of local baseball players in the free agent draft this week.

The Reds took LHP Joel Bender, 6'5" 205 out of Oak Hills High School in the 27th round.  Cincinnati selected Jacob May, a 5'10" 180lb, shortstop from Lakota West High.

Alex Wimmers from Moeller High was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the first round.  Wimmers pitched at Ohio State. The 6'2" RHP was the 21st overall selection.  Moeller's 2010 ace, David Whitehead, was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 35th round.  The RHP is 6'4 215.  He was 9-1 for Moeller this year with his only loss a 1-0 game to Elder in the state semi-finals.

Other Local Players taken, LHP Brian Garman (519) out of UC by the Milwaukee Brewers, LHP Kevin Johnson out of UC (1276) by the Texas Rangers.  The Houston Astros picked LHP Thomas Shirely from Xavier (273).  Miami University RHP, Jamaal Hollis was picked (998) by the Chicago White Sox.  With pick (1345) the New York Yankees took LHP David Middendorf from the campus of Northern Kentucky University.  Middendorf pitched for LaSalle High School.  His teammate at Northern, Jarrett Casey was taken by the Chicago White Sox (968).  Casey is a lefthanded pitcher.  RHP Dusty Isaacs was picked (1497) by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Lebanon High School.  The Arizona Diamondbacks took Miami outfielder, Adam Eaton with pick (571).  The Colorado Rockies took 3B, Jayson Langfels with the (500) pick from Eastern Kentucky University.  (It's my alma mater)

The Los Angeles Dodgers took Steven Matre from the College of Mount St. Joe in the 39th round.  The RHP is 6'2 and 215 lbs.  He attended Purcell Marian High School.  Matre missed the entire 2010 season but in his first three years saved 32 games, three shy of the NCAA Division III record.  The Dodgers scouts had seen him pitch before he had "Tommy John" surgery on his elbow.  Chances are he would have been taken higher without the injury.