Tampa Concludes MLB Draft With Five Selections
TAMPA, Fla. - After seeing left-handed pitcher Mike Adams became the first member of the 2013 NCAA Division II national champions to be selected in the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft, on Saturday the Spartans have had four more players chosen on the third day to end with five selections.
Adams was chosen in the seventh round by the Boston Red Sox, with the 203rd selection. The Baltimore Orioles then chose a pair of Spartans, including pitchers Caleb Kellogg (17th Round) and Jon Keller (22nd Round). NCAA Championships MVP Jake Schrader became the first position player chosen as the Atlanta Braves took him in the 27th Round. Matt Abramson was then chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the 29th Round.
Kellogg, a junior right-handed pitcher from DeQuincy, La., matched Adams for the team lead with six saves. He was 4-1 on the year with a 3.96 ERA. In 36.1 innings, he registered 53 strikeouts and struck out five batters in 1.2 innings of work in the national championship game versus Minnesota State.
Keller, a junior right-handed pitcher from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was 6-3 with a 3.95 ERA in his first season with the Spartans. He was a major player during the championship run, recording three victories in the NCAA Tournament. He was also the winner of the national championship game, throwing 7.0 innings without an earned run.
Schrader, a senior third baseman from San Antonio, Fla., led the Spartans with 10 home runs while starting all 52 games played. Schrader hit safely in each of the final seven games, and became the first player to hit multiple home runs at the NCAA Division II Championships in Cary, N.C. He totaled four home runs in the NCAA tournament, including two in the regional finals series versus West Florida.
Abramson, a senior right-handed pitcher from Malvern, Pa., was 7-1 in his first season with the Spartans as he notched a 1.38 ERA. He also set a school record with 33.2 scoreless innings to start the season. In all, he did not allow a run in 10 of his 12 appearances on the year.
UT has now produced a NCAA Division II record 41 players who have been drafted since 2006. In that span, Tampa has had at least three players selected in each draft, including a school record in nine in 2010. The Spartans have now had a player drafted in 11 consecutive MLB drafts, dating back to 2003.
Following is a listing of UT players chosen in the 2013 MLB Draft.
Player, Team, Round, Selection Number
Mike Adams, Boston Red Sox, Round 7, Pick 203
Caleb Kellogg, Baltimore Orioles, Round 17, Pick 519
Jon Keller, Baltimore Orioles, Round 22, Pick 669
Jake Schrader, Atlanta Braves, Round 27, Pick 823
Matt Abramson, Chicago White Sox, Round 29, Pick 873