Post by smurph on Jun 11, 2009 9:03:49 GMT -5
By BlueGoldNews.com
Posted Jun 10, 2009
West Virginia University catcher Tobias Streich has been selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The Johnsonburg, Pa., native was chosen as the 162nd overall pick, and is Minnesota’s sixth pick in the Draft.
“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to join the Twins organization,” Streich said. “They are one of the Major League organizations that does a great job of developing players.”
Streich, a 21-year old catcher who recently completed his sophomore season, batted .322 with six home runs, 57 RBIs, 16 doubles and 38 runs scored in 2009. The Johnny Bench Award Watch List member also totaled 66 hits and led the Mountaineers with 15 sacrifice bunts.
Streich ended the 2009 season as an all-Big East First Team selection. He started 53 of WVU’s 55 games behind the plate, and managed to strike out just 23 times in 239 plate appearances.
Entering Morgantown in 2008 as one of the top recruits in the eastern region, Streich gained noteworthy attention by several Division I schools because of his accurate arm. In his two seasons at WVU, the former Johnsonburg High standout has thrown out nearly 40 percent (33-of-86) of players caught stealing.
The standout catcher becomes the second Mountaineer to be drafted by the Twins. Former WVU outfielder Joseph Honce was the selected as the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 1973 MLB Amateur Draft. Streich now owns the highest draft pick in school history by a catcher, formally held by 11th round selection Charles Boggs in 1967.
He is also WVU’s highest draft selection since former pitcher Chris Enochs was drafted 11th overall in the first round by the Oakland Athletics in 1997. Streich was also drafted by the A’s out of high school in the 26th round.
“I really did not expect to go this high,” Streich added. “I happened to be sitting at my computer and all the sudden my name was called. I talked to the Twins a little bit during the process, and I’m very happy with the selection.”
According to Major League Baseball rules, a player selected by his respective team may sign with the Club that selected him from the time of the selection until 12:01 a.m. (EDT) on August 16th, or until the player enters or returns to, a four-year college or junior college for the fall semester.
Posted Jun 10, 2009
West Virginia University catcher Tobias Streich has been selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The Johnsonburg, Pa., native was chosen as the 162nd overall pick, and is Minnesota’s sixth pick in the Draft.
“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to join the Twins organization,” Streich said. “They are one of the Major League organizations that does a great job of developing players.”
Streich, a 21-year old catcher who recently completed his sophomore season, batted .322 with six home runs, 57 RBIs, 16 doubles and 38 runs scored in 2009. The Johnny Bench Award Watch List member also totaled 66 hits and led the Mountaineers with 15 sacrifice bunts.
Streich ended the 2009 season as an all-Big East First Team selection. He started 53 of WVU’s 55 games behind the plate, and managed to strike out just 23 times in 239 plate appearances.
Entering Morgantown in 2008 as one of the top recruits in the eastern region, Streich gained noteworthy attention by several Division I schools because of his accurate arm. In his two seasons at WVU, the former Johnsonburg High standout has thrown out nearly 40 percent (33-of-86) of players caught stealing.
The standout catcher becomes the second Mountaineer to be drafted by the Twins. Former WVU outfielder Joseph Honce was the selected as the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 1973 MLB Amateur Draft. Streich now owns the highest draft pick in school history by a catcher, formally held by 11th round selection Charles Boggs in 1967.
He is also WVU’s highest draft selection since former pitcher Chris Enochs was drafted 11th overall in the first round by the Oakland Athletics in 1997. Streich was also drafted by the A’s out of high school in the 26th round.
“I really did not expect to go this high,” Streich added. “I happened to be sitting at my computer and all the sudden my name was called. I talked to the Twins a little bit during the process, and I’m very happy with the selection.”
According to Major League Baseball rules, a player selected by his respective team may sign with the Club that selected him from the time of the selection until 12:01 a.m. (EDT) on August 16th, or until the player enters or returns to, a four-year college or junior college for the fall semester.