LEWISTON, Idaho – The Lewis-Clark State College baseball team had six more players selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft on Wednesday, bringing the total to seven chosen overall this year, which ties the second highest total overall in program history.
The seven selections tied LCSC for 17th overall among the most selections by any college, high school, or baseball academy in the 2017 draft. LCSC was tied for second among players selected from non-NCAA Division I programs, trailing only a junior college and tying an NCAA Division II program, both located in Florida.
LCSC’s seven selections included six seniors, which sets the program record for the most seniors taken in one season. The highest overall total LCSC had drafted in one year is eight from the 2007 team, while seven were also selected in 2010. However, LCSC has five juniors selected from the 2007 team and two from the 2010 team.
On Wednesday, shortstop Micah Brown (19th round by Miami), pitcher Kevin Hamann (22nd round by St. Louis), reliever Henry McAree (29th round by Miami), infielder Seaver Whalen (32nd round by Tampa Bay), designated hitter/first baseman J.J. Robinson (33rd round by Minnesota) and catcher Cooper Goldby (35th round by Oakland) were selected when MLB held rounds 11-40 to wrap up the draft. On Tuesday, LCSC had pitcher Connor Brodgon selected in the 10th round by Philadelphia.
Robison, who is from Colfax, Wash. and attended Walla Walla Community College, had another monster year for the Warriors as he was named the NAIA West Player of the Year for the second straight season. Coming back from an injury, he saw most of his action as the team’s designated hitter and led the Warriors in a number of categories. He was second on the team with a .340 batting average and led the squad in home runs (22), RBI (68), doubles (15), and slugging percentage (.739), even despite some teams putting a shift on him and moving defensive players to the right side of the field. The left-handed hitting Robinson, the 976th pick overall, also named the MVP of the Avista NAIA World Series after he hit .381 with two home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored. In the championship game, a 6-4 win over Faulkner, he had a double and hit his first triple of the season.
The Twins have a rookie league team in Elizabethtown in Tennessee and an A affiliate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
