Five MAAC Standouts Taken in MLB Draft
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – Five of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s top baseball student-athletes were selected in Major League Baseball ‘s 2013 First-Year Player Draft, held June 6-8. All five players drafted recently competed in the MAAC Championship Tournament, May 23-26, won by Canisius.
Marist’s right handed pitcher Kevin McCarthy and shortstop Zach Shank were the first MAAC draftees. McCarthy, a righty pitcher who recently completed his junior year, was selected in the 16th round by the Kansas City Royals. Shank, a senior shortstop, was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the 28th round. McCarthy was Co-Reliever of the Year in the MAAC after compiling a 4-3 record, with eight saves and a 4.24 ERA in 22 games. Shank was a first-team All-MAAC selection at shortstop, hitting .370 with three homers and scoring 50 runs. The smooth fielding infielder is Marist’s career leader with 681 assists.
Rider’s Jerry Mulderig also went in the 28th round, taken two choices after Shank, by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mulderig was a first-team All-MAAC selection as a DH, but went to the Bucs as a pitcher. Mulderig hit .328 for Rider last season, and was also 3-2 with 4.12 ERA as a pitcher. Mulderig limited opposing batters to a .229 average.
Mike Fish of Siena, who led the MAAC with 12 homers as a senior, was a 32nd round choice of the Los Angeles Angels. Fish was the MAAC’s Player of the Year and also led the league in hits (81), runs (54), total bases (136) and slugging percentage (.602), and was second in RBI (50) and doubles(17).
Canisius junior pitcher Garrett Cortright was taken in the 40th round of the draft by the Baltimore Orioles. The 6-5 righthander was 11-4 with a 2.41 ERA, leading the MAAC in both categories. The first team All-MAAC selection earned his 11th win of the season by tossing a one-hitter in the Golden Griffs’ 2-1 win over Marist in the opening round of the MAAC Championship tournament.