Baseball in Fort Wayne

Jarrod Parker made the biggest local splash of the draft yesterday, going in the first round as the ninth overall selection. But there were a handful of other diamond hopefuls who were drafted. I have tried to research all those with Northeast Indiana ties, but if I have missed any, please feel free to let me know.

Andy DeLaGarza (Norwell)was selected in the 18th round by the San Francisco Giants – going 554th overall. DeLaGarza, a left handed pitcher at Coastal Carolina University, was 9-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 17 appearances this season. Over 102.2 innings, he struck out 53 and allowed just 22 walks. DeLaGarza was also drafted in 2003 out of high school by the Minnesota Twins but chose college instead.

Kyle Day (Snider) is a sophomore catcher at Michigan State University. He was selected in the 19th round by the Chicago Cubs at 577 overall. Day was a Baseball America Preseason All-Big Ten and Collegiate Baseball Big Ten Player to Watch selection. He was also named one of the top prospects in the Jayhawk League last summer by Baseball America. He led the team with a .438 on-base percentage and drew 33 walks.

Ben Norton (Bishop Dwenger) a senior pitcher at the University of Evansville was selected in the 24th round at 726 overall by the Kansas City Royals. He transferred to UE from Wabash Valley Junior College prior to the 2006 season and put together a career 18-7 record and 2.89 ERA in 36 games. In 196.1 innings, Norton allowed just 173 base hits while striking out 160. His 18 career victories rank him at 16th all-time in UE history and represent the highest mark by a two-year pitcher in school history.

Kyle Leiendecker a left-handed pitcher at Homestead High School was selected in the 25th round at 767 overall by the Cleveland Indians.

Jason Nance, a first baseman at Blackford High School was selected 915 overall in the 30th round by the Seattle Mariners.

Fred Jones (Churubusco) a senior pitcher at the University of Evansville was selected in the 33rd round of the draft by the New York Yankees. Jones pitched in parts of three seasons for Evansville, compiling a 7-10 record and 3.90 ERA in 147.2 career innings on the mound. Jones allowed just 129 base hits while at Evansville and made UE history in his first season by hurling the first-ever no-hitter at UE’s Braun Stadium against Northern Iowa on April 10, 2005.

Josh Judy, a junior pitcher from Morgantown, West Virginia, was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 34th round at 1,034 overall. This season at Indiana Tech, he posted an 8-1 record with a 1.63 earned run average and 84 strikeouts. He’s also a two-time NAIA All-American pitcher.

Michael Morrison, a Bishop Luers senior was selected in the 45th round at number 1339 overall.

Congratulations to this year’s diamond standouts! I can’t wait to see you take the field on the pro level!

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