Original link: http://www.necbl.com/view/necbl/news-1185/news_536610
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) saw nearly 50 players with current or former ties to its members selected during or after the 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft, which concluded last week. Among those selected were seven players that were members of a league team this season and over 30 players taken during the three-day event itself followed by 13 others inking free-agent contracts in the days that have followed.
The Newport Gulls boasted 12 of the 46 total alumni who heard their name called over the course of the draft or afterward, including 2018 left-handed pitcher Russell Smith (TCU) being picked 51st overall in the second round by the Milwaukee Brewers in addition to fellow 2018 teammate and righty Tyler Mattison (Bryant) landing with the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round (104th overall).
Not far behind Newport’s dozen draft selections, the Keene Swamp Bats enjoyed seeing 10 alumni chosen in this year’s draft, including 2018 right-hander Griff McGarry (Virginia) chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth round (145th overall) and 2019 righty Luke Albright (Kent State) who heard his name called by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round (168th overall).
Six of the 46 NECBL draftees or free agent signings are current performers in the New England League as members of either Newport, the Mystic Schooners, Martha’s Vineyard Sharks or Sanford Mainers. Newport righty Jimmy Kingsbury (Villanova) heard his name called by the Seattle Mariners in the 17th round (504th overall), left-hander Jack Aldrich (Tulane) was chosen by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round (589th overall) and shortstop Justin Guerrera (Fairfield) drafted by the New York Mets in the final round (592nd overall); Mystic’s southpaw Rohan Handa (Yale) was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round (146th overall) and right-hander Tyler Schoff (Bryant) inked a contract with the Washington Nationals as a free agent; Martha’s Vineyard’s right-hander Matt MacMillan (UT Tyler) singing a contract as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels; Sanford’s righty Alex McKenney (Maine) agreeing to a deal with the Phillies.
"The New England League is proud to see so many of our alumni earn the opportunity to begin playing professional baseball”, NECBL Commissioner Sean McGrath stated. “The number of our alumni chosen reflects the level of play our league has become known for around the country and in the MLB scouting world. The addition of Trackman and Synergy technologies will only continue to give all of our players an increased opportunity to prove they are ready for the next level.
“We wish all of our alumni the very best as they begin their road through the minor leagues. We take great pride knowing that their time spent in the New England League has prepared them well to thrive night in and night out against the most talented players around, just like they did when they played in the NECBL."
At the conclusion of the draft, another seven NECBL alumni spanning each of the last two seasons signed free agent contracts with a variety of MLB organizations. In total, 11 of the league’s 14 active clubs from either 2018 or 2019 campaigns had at least one alumnus either drafted or sign as a free agent, highlighted by the Gulls’ 12 such honorees, the Swamp Bats’ 10 and North Adams SteepleCats’ five selections.
A league-high seven players were either drafted or signed by the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, while four joined the Angels and three apiece went to the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Tigers and Nationals.
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