The Red Storm is on a roll.
As the St. John’s University baseball team swept through the NCAA Division 1 regional tournament with three straight victories, the Johnnies stormed the second day of the 2012 MLB Draft, as four players were selected within the first six rounds.
Junior outfielder Jeremy Baltz, who batted .345 this season and led the Red Storm with homeruns (eight), triples (four), RBI (51) and runs scored (63) during the regular season, was taken by the San Diego Padres in the second round; 68th overall. Baltz was followed by Matt Wessinger, who was selected in the fifth round, 168th overall, by the Colorado Rockies.
“I am very happy and excited for this group and it is a true testament to the success of the program to have four players selected in the top six rounds,” said Red Storm head coach Ed Blankmeyer.
Relief pitcher Matt Carasiti was the next Johnny selected — also by the Rockies— in the sixth round, 198th overall, and just three picks later starter Kyle Hansen (5-5), who had a 3.46 ERA and team-high 108 strikeouts over 93.2 innings, was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round; 201st overall.
“[The players] have worked hard and performed consistently at a high level and have earned this opportunity,” Blankmeyer said.
Baltz, the highest selected Johnny in this year’s draft, is the all-time leader in program history in both home runs (36) and RBI (196).
The outfielder also has a closet-full of accolades including the NCBWA National Hitter of the Year award, which he received in his first season with the Red Storm after leading the nation’s freshmen in both home runs (24) and RBI (85).
Wessinger, a senior shortstop, was drafted last year by the Kansas City Royals in the 37th round, but chose to return to school. This year he led the Red Storm in batting average (.353), on-base percentage (.442) and stolen bases (34).
“I am especially excited for Matt [Wessinger], who was drafted in the 37th round a year ago and had the courage to return to school and prove that he was a top-five rounder,” Blankmeyer said about the infielder.
Pitcher Sean Hagan was also selected in the 29th round, 880th overall by the Minnesota Twins.
The highest positioning for four draft picks prior to this year occurred in the 2005 MLB Draft when St. John’s had four selections in the top 15 rounds, according to St. John’s Athletics.
Last year the Red Storm saw three players drafted. Shortstop Joe Panik was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the first round, 29th overall, first baseman Paul Karmas was taken by the San Diego Padres 773rd overall, and Wessinger.
