Four from MAAC Baseball Selected in 2019 MLB Draft
EDISON, NJ – Four MAAC baseball student-athletes heard their names called in the 2019 MLB Draft. The 40-round draft took place from June 3-5. Fairfield University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, and Siena College each had a player selected.
Niagara’s Matthew Brash was the first MAAC player off the board when he went in the fourth round (113th overall) to the San Diego Padres. Brash is the MAAC’s highest selection since Iona College’s Mariano Rivera went in the fourth round (134th overall) in 2015 to the Washington Nationals. Brash is the highest Purple Eagle selected Jordan Schwartz went in the fourth round (132nd overall) in 2014 to the Oakland Athletics. Brash was the 2019 MAAC Baseball Pitcher of the Year after leading the MAAC in ERA (2.43), batting average against (.194), and strikeouts (121).
Austin Pope of Fairfield went in the 15th round (452nd overall) to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The junior went 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA over 77 innings for the Stags in 2019. Pope was named to the All-MAAC Second Team this season. The Bronxville, New York native, is the first Stag to be drafted since Gavin Wallace went in the 15th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017.
The Detroit Tigers picked Siena’s Brendan White in the 26th round (772nd overall). White, who was an All-MAAC First Team selection in 2019, pitched to a 3.00 ERA over 90 innings for the Saints. The Mahopac, New York native went 3-4, struck out 93, and recorded a 1.33 WHIP during his junior campaign. Siena has had a player drafted in three straight years with White’s selection.
Arizona selected Quinnipiac’s Tyler Poulin in the 29th round (872nd overall). Poulin was 7-2 with a 3.83 ERA in 2019 for the MAAC Champion Bobcats, and is the first Bobcat since 2017 to be drafted. The Randolph, New Jersey native was an All-MAAC First Team selection in 2019. Poulin was in the top 10 of the MAAC in ERA, batting average against, innings pitched, and strikeouts.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38
th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.