Baseball: Six Owl players taken in 2015 MLB Draft
Sanger, Collins and McGarry among those whose names were called.
Pitcher Kyle Miller delivers a pitch during the Owls’ May 8 game against Rice . Miller was one of six Owls picked during the three day draft. Photo by Michelle Friswell
June 10, 2015
Six Florida Atlantic baseball players were taken during the three days of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft.
The first day (composed of the first and second rounds), was quiet for the eligible players. In the history of the program, no player has been selected in the first two rounds.
Rounds three through 10 were a lot more eventful, as the the University had players selected throughout the day. Junior outfielder Brendon Sanger was the first FAU pick of the second day, taken by the Los Angeles Angels with the 135th overall pick in the fourth round. The reigning Conference USA player of the year may leave if he is offered enough money.
Roman Collins faces the same choice. The junior center fielder was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round, with the 159th pick.
If either one of those players leaves to pursue professional play, it will leave a major hole in the Owls’ offensive production. Sanger hit .351 with 11 home runs and 102 RBI in three seasons in Boca Raton, while Collins hit .296 with six home runs and 53 RBI in his only season with the Owls.
Sophomore pitcher Seth McGarry was the last Owl taken of the second day, picked in the eighth round with the 247th pick. McGarry, a hard-throwing righty from Brandenton, Florida, was named the 147th best player availiable in the draft by MLB.com (Sanger was named 160th).
Concern for his pitching arm injury in the season prior to this may have made some teams skeptical of future problems, but a lively fastball could mean McGarry is a steal if healthy.
The third and final day of action saw three FAU players taken, one of which was junior pitcher Kyle Miller. Selected 563rd overall in the 19th round by the Chicago Cubs, he struck out a team high of 62 batters and won seven games last year.
The second man to go was senior pitcher Drew Jackson. In two seasons with the Owls, the righty went 11-7 with 108 strikeouts and a 3.28 ERA. Jackson went to the San Francisco Giants with 1,053rd overall pick in the 38th round.
Kansas City took junior outfielder Billy Endris was the 1,179th overall pick in the 39th round. Endris batted .300 this year,benefiting from a hot streak during his increased playing time towards the end of the year. Endris joins Roman Collins as the second player to go to the Royals during this year’s draft. Endris wound up being the final Owl to be picked.
The six Owls that were drafted during the three day span was the second most in school history. The most that were drafted ever came in 2000, when eight selections came from FAU’s roster.
