Six members of the Kennesaw State baseball program heard their names called over the course of the three-day MLB first-year player draft. Four current members of the squad and a pair of high school signees now have the option of playing professional baseball, a dream for most Little Leaguers running around the diamond.
Catcher Ronnie Freeman was the first Owl to be selected as the Arizona Diamondbacks picked Freeman in the fifth round with the No. 183 overall pick. In his three years in Kennesaw, Freeman recorded 242 hits (ninth all-time in KSU history), 152 RBIs (eighth all-time) 25 home runs and 41 doubles (10th all-time). He also compiled a 42-game hitting streak, good enough for fourth all-time in NCAA history. He earned Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors in each of his three seasons and was a 2010 Collegiate Baseball First Team Freshman. This past season, Freeman registered a .352 batting average with a .500 slugging percentage and a .426 on-base percentage while appearing in all 54 games for the Owls.
Will Howard was taken in the 22nd round by the Baltimore Orioles with the No. 672 overall pick. The center fielder made 120 putouts in 2012 while batting .297. Just 24 picks later, Texas selected pitcher Travis Dean. The sophomore was limited to just six games this year but still notched a 4-1 record.
Josh Carr went in the 28th round at pick No. 874 to the Detroit Tigers. The right-handed starter won eight straight starts at one point this year.
High school senior Jordan Hillyer of Hebron Christian was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 20th round (No. 617 overall) and Alex Liquori of Whitewater was picked by the Minnesota Twins in the 38th round (No. 1180), though both could still head to Kennesaw State as part of the 11-man 2013 signing class.
“We are excited for all the guys who were drafted and their chance to play professional baseball,” head coach Mike Sansing said in a release. “It is always a plus for our program to have players drafted. We work hard to develop players and give them every opportunity to pursue their dreams of playing in the big leagues.”
Kennesaw State has had 50 players drafted in the program’s history, including a pair of first-rounders in 2009.
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