June 5, 2019

Cody leads the D-III Draft class

More news about: Baldwin Wallace

The first Division III player taken in this year's MLB amateur player draft was Danny Cody, a right-hander out of Baldwin Wallace.

Danny Cody, RHP, Baldwin Wallace

Houston, 17th round, No. 526 overall

Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 175.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Medina, Ohio

Baldwin Wallace photo by Alec Palmer

Baldwin Wallace senior two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference and D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-American right-handed pitcher Danny Cody becomes the highest drafted player in school history as he was selected by the Houston Astros in the 17th round of the MLB amateur draft, number 526th overall.

Cody becomes the first Division lll baseball player to be drafted and the eighth Yellow Jacket since 1968. He is the first since 2016 when Mark Zimmerman '16 was selected in the 33rd round by the San Diego Padres. 

"The baseball program and myself are very excited for Danny," said Head Coach Brian Harrison. "It's a heck of an accomplishment to be named an All-american, an Academic All-American and being drafted all in the same year. Danny is a tremendous person and has been a key leader in our program." 

In his senior campaign, the righty made 15 appearances with 13 starts, dealt a team-high 85.2 innings, owned a 9-1 record, and averaged 11.45 strikeouts per nine innings. Cody also led the OAC with nine wins, 109 strikeouts, and an earned run average (ERA) of 1.89. His 109 strikeouts sets him atop BW's single-season strikeout leaderboard.

For his career, Cody made 60 appearances with 33 starts and owns a 19-8 record with two saves, 262 strikeouts in 227 innings pitched, and a 3.33 ERA.

The other six players to be drafted include outfielder Erik Young '89 in the 54th round of the 1988 draft and 57th round of the 1989 draft, both by the Cleveland Indians, left-handed pitcher Jephrey Doorey in the 33rd round of the 1984 draft by the Montreal Expos, catcher Joe Portale '83 in the 40th round of the 1980 draft by the Indians, shortstop Kenny Preseren '76 in the 21st round of the 1976 draft by the Indians, shortstop Wilburt Avery '73 in the 41st round of the 1975 by the Indians, and right-handed pitcher Bob Love '68 in the 35th round of the 1968 draft by the Indians.

Toby Welk, 3B, Penn State-Berks

Baltimore, 21st round, No. 618th overall

Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 200.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Downingtown, Pa.

Toby Welk became the second D-III player taken in the final day of the MLB amateur draft. He was selected by Baltimore with their 21st pick, 618th overall.

The senior standout is the first member in Penn State Berks history to be drafted by one of the major U.S. sports leagues. Welk is just the second player ever drafted in the North Eastern Athletic Conference. He joins Nelson Gomez of then NEAC member Keystone College, who went to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 24th round of the 2008 draft.

"I now have an opportunity to represent every place that I came from," said Welk. "I get to show what I can do on the next level and am excited to see where the game of baseball takes me."

Penn State Berks athletics photo

Welk puts the finishing touches on an amazing career by being named the D3baseball.com National Player of the Year and earning All-America First Team honors, as announced by the organization on Tuesday afternoon.

Welk is not only the first National Player of the Year in Penn State Berks history, but also the first ever recipient from the North Eastern Athletic Conference. This marks the second straight year that Welk has garnered All-America First Team honors. He is the only player in program history to earn All-America accolades.

Welk ranks as one of the top hitters in the country after batting .483 (70-for-145) with 17 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 58 RBI, and 56 runs scored. Welk leads all of Division III in slugging percentage (.938) and RBI per game (1.49), while ranking second in batting average, third in total bases (136), and fourth in runs scored per game (1.44). He also ranks among the top-10 in the nation for home runs, home runs per game (.33), on-base percentage (.555), and RBI.

He reached base safely with a hit in 34 of 39 contests he played in and recorded two or more hits on 24 occasions. Welk was walked 23 times this season, eight of which were intentional walks, while striking out only six times. He ranked as the 24th toughest batter to strikeout in the country with an average of one strikeout for every 24.2 plate appearances.

In addition to his success at the plate and on the bases, Welk was a phenomenal fielder. He switched from third base to shortstop in his senior season and the transition was seamless. With a great glove and strong arm, Welk recorded 41 putouts, 114 assists, and was a part of 16 doubles plays. What does not show up in those numbers, were the amount of balls that he fielded in the hole to keep runners from advancing an extra base on a hit to the outfield.

Nick Roth, RHP, Randolph-Macon

Baltimore, 26th round, No. 768th overall

Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 175.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Henrico, Va.

Senior right-hander Nick Roth was taken by Baltimore in the 26th round of the MLB amateur daft. He was the 768th overall pick and the second D-III Player drafted by Baltimore.

Randolph-Macon athletics photo

 Roth was named to both the 2019 D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-America Teams.

Earlier, Roth was named All-America Second Team by D3baseball.com. He was also the Pitcher of the Year in the South Region by the ABCA/Rawlings and D3baseball.com. Roth was voted ODAC Pitcher of the Year.

In the ODAC, Roth led all pitchers with 10 wins, 4 complete games, 98 strikeouts and 1.93 ERA. He tops the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 14.0, with 98 strikeouts compared to 7 walks. Roth did not allowed a walk in his final four starts and his final 34.1 innings. He is fifth in the nation with 0.75 walks per nine innings (7 walks in 84 innings). Roth is ninth nationally with 10 wins, 13th with 98 strikeouts, 18th with a WHIP of 0.92, and 43rd with an ERA of 1.93. Roth has a career mark of 26-2 and owns the program record for career wins. Roth had 221 career strikeouts, six behind the school record of 227 by R-MC assistant coach James Walsh.

Casey Combs, C, East Texas Baptist

Miami, 27th round, No. 801st overall

Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Southlake, Texas.

For the third time in school history, an East Texas Baptist player has been selected in the MLB amateur draft as Casey Combs was pick number 801 in the 27th Round by the Miami Marlins. He joins the ranks of Tim Brown (1980, New York Mets) and Tyler Bates (2016, Los Angeles Angels) as ETBU players to be drafted.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment for Casey. I am extremely proud of the determination he put towards being the best player, leader, teammate, and man he could be for this team," says head coach Jared Hood. "His growth in his maturity on and off the field is a true testament of his character and what he has been able to accomplish. I am thankful that God placed this young man into my life and that he used this game so that we could grow together. I am Very proud of him."

Combs leads ETBU as one of the most decorated players in program history. He was named to two All-American first teams (D3baseball.com, ABCA), was the West Region Player of the Year (D3baseball.com, ABCA), the American Southwest Conference Player of the Year, and a CoSIDA Academic All-American third team selection. He also earned All-ASC first team and was on the D3baseball.com "Team of the Week" and twice the ASC Hitter of the Week.

This season he led the team in batting average (.417), hits (68), RBI (48), and stolen bases (19), while sharing the home run lead at 13. He also set a career high with an 11-game hitting streak from March 8th-23rd while tying a career high with five hits against Louisiana College (Apr. 26).

Tyler Peck, RHP, Chapman

St. Louis, 28th round, No. 845th overall

Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 230.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Corte Madera, Calif.

Tyler Peck celebrated a national championship on Tuesday and being drafted on Wednesday. The St. Louis Cardinals took Peck with their 28th pick in the 2019 MLB amateur draft. He was the 845th over all selection.

In May the starting pitcher landed a spot on the D3baseball.com All-America list and was named the West Pitcher of the Year.

Peck has been the Panthers' ace on the mound all season. The righty led the Panthers and currently leads the nation with 150 strikeouts this season, shattering Chapman's single-season record. He has helped the Panther pitching staff be one of the most dominant in the nation, posting a career-low 1.72 ERA in 104 and two-thirds innings pitched.

Peck allows opponents to hit just .213 when he steps up on the mound. The Corte Madera native leads the nation with 16 starts this season and has posted a career-best 7-3 record this year. Peck amassed double-digit strikeout games in half of his starts, including a career-high 16 strikeouts against George Fox.

Matt Woods, OF, Rowan

Los Angeles Angels, 29th round, No. 871st overall

Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 185.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Berlin, N.J.

Rowan center fielder Matt Woods was the third position player selected in the 2019 ML amateur draft. The outfielder was selected in the 29th round by the Los Angeles Angels with the 871st overall pick.

Woods received D3baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings All-America second team honors this season.
 
This season, Woods was one of the top offensive players. He finished with a .421 batting average and a .743 slugging percentage. He tallied 77 hits, 12 home runs, 61 runs and 136 total bases, which was a team and NJAC best. He broke the school record for most runs scored (57) and total bases (132) in a season. The senior recorded two or more hits in 25 contests and produced three five-hit games.
 
In Division III, Woods is tied for third in total bases, fifth in hits, tied for fifth in runs scored and tied for 16th in home runs. Woods was named to the D3baseball.com All-America second team. He earned ABCA/Rawlings and D3baseball.com Mid-Atlantic All-Region first team accolades. Woods was selected the NJAC Player of the Year and was a member of the All-Conference first team.

Danny Serreino, RHP, Rowan

Cincinnati, 32nd round, No. 954th overall

Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 225.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Jackson, N.J.

Rowan right-hander pitcher Danny Serreino was the taken by the Cincinnati Reds with the 954th overall pick in the 32nd round of the MLB amateur daft.

Serreino's earned All-Region accolades for the second straight year. He finished the year with a 5-4 record and a 2.23 earned run average (ERA). In 68.1 innings, he tallied 113 strikeouts. He tossed one complete game and had a .176 opposing batting average. Serreino had seven contests where he recorded 10 or more strikeouts. He broke the school record for most strikeouts in a game with 16 against Rutgers-Newark. In the NJAC, Serreino was first in opposing batting average, strikeouts and strikeouts looking (36). He ranks fifth in Division III for most strikeouts. The senior was named to the D3baseball.com All-Region second team, NJAC Pitcher of the Week four times and All-Conference first team.

Dylan Beasley, RHP, Berry

Washington, 32nd round, No. 963rd overall

Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 225.
Bats: Right. Throws: Right.
Hometown: Rome, Ga.

Berry right-hander pitcher Dylan Beasley was the taken by Washington in the 32nd round of the MLB amateur draft, 963rd overall.

Beasley, a junior infielder and pitcher from Rome, Ga., earned his second All-Conference honor. He ranked top-10 in the SAA with two triples, 34 RBIs, a 5-0 record on the mound and a career-best 48 strikeouts. On the year, he hit a career-high .313 with a .435 slugging percentage. He was also selected to this year’s SAA All-Tournament team.

Robert Klinchock, LHP, Shenandoah

Detroit, 35th round, No. 1042nd overall

Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 225.
Bats: Right. Throws: Left.
Hometown: Mt. Lebanon, Pa.

Standout pitcher Robert Klinchock '19 has become the third member of the Shenandoah baseball program drafted in the past four years with his selection by the Detroit Tigers.

Klinchock, the Hornets No. 1 starter this season, was selected by the Tigers in the 35th round with pick No. 1042 of the 2019 MLD amateur draft.

Klinchock finished his SU career with a 15-12 record and 141 strikeouts in 201 innings pitched. He was named to the 2019 ODAC All-Tournament team after throwing two complete games in the tourney.

The 2019 co-captain will report to the Tigers spring training home in Lakeland, Florida for assignment to one of its minor league affiliates.

The Tigers have two Gulf Coast League Rookie teams in Florida and a short season Class A team, the Connecticut Tigers.