Uncle Bud Wants You
Service academies have best year ever in draft
For whatever else the 2007 draft is remembered for, it was by far the most productive draft ever for the three major military academies.
Army and Navy both had two players drafted, while Air Force had one. Considering the academies had a total of four players selected in all of draft history before this year, it was quite a day.
The most notable prospect among the group is Army lefthander Nick Hill, who was the No. 200 prospect in Baseball America's predraft rankings. The most decorated player in Army history went in the seventh round, 225th overall, to the Mariners.
Hill was a 47th-round pick of the Red Sox last year after his junior season. It was just a courtesy pick because he was ineligible to sign until after his senior year. He went 7-3, 1.91 with 100 strikeouts against 18 walks in 85 innings this season, topping off a career in which he established or tied 46 school and Patriot League records.
Hill is just the third Army player ever drafted, following catcher Schuyler Williamson in 2005 (Tigers, 26th round) and third baseman Mike Scioletti in 1998 (White Sox, 43rd round). Williams played one season in the Tigers organization before entering active duty, while Scioletti never signed.
Righthander Milan Dinga added to Army's history in the 10th round, going to the Angels. He was a two-way standout, batting .279 with three home runs as an outfielder and going 2-0, 0.92 with six saves as a closer. He set school and Patriot League records with 27 career saves.
Hill and Dinga were by far the earliest draft picks ever for players out of a military academy. One of the reasons is they actually will be able to play professional baseball.
Students in military academies have to serve five years after they graduate. The Army has a program that allows baseball players to spend their first two years out of school playing in the minor leagues and serving in the reserves, assigned to nearby recruiting stations. If he's still playing after two years, he can "buy out" his remaining three years in exchange for six years of reserve time.
"It's really an honor to be selected by the Mariners in the draft," Hill said from his home in Bluff City, Tenn., where he followed the draft online. "This is just the first step of where I want to be. Hopefully, someday I can make it to the major leagues."
Dinga followed the draft from his brother's home in Orlando. "This is just a dream come true," he said. "When I saw my name pop up on the computer, it was one of the greatest feelings in the world."
Navy also had two players drafted, though their chances of getting on a professional field are much murkier.
Righthander Mitch Harris actually ranked higher than Hill in BA's predraft scouting (No. 156), and was regarded as a potential third-round pick on talent. He's a 6-foot-4, athletic pitcher who throws in the mid-90s, so teams would love to get him under contract.
Unfortunately, it will be at least three years--and maybe more--before he can play. That's why he lasted until the 24th round, when the Braves selected him. Harris is a junior, so there's almost no chance he'll be able to sign this year.
Even after next year, it seems unlikely. In the past, Navy has allowed a few athletes, including David Robinson, to serve two years in active duty and then six in the reserves. But Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter issued a memo last year saying that because of the war in Iraq, the early release program would be suspended.
In fact, the other Navy player who was drafted, catcher Jonathan Johnston, graduated from Navy last year and is currently serving aboard the USS Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship. The Athletics took Johnston in the 42nd round.
Harris and Johnston are the second and third Navy players ever drafted, following lefthander Matt Foster, a 13th-round pick of the Blue Jays as a senior in 2003. The Navy did release Foster to play for parts of three seasons, but he never made it past Rookie-level Pulaski and compiled a career 1-0, 2.78 record in 23 innings. The Jays released him after last season.
Air Force also had a player picked, just the second player in the history of its program. First baseman/outfielder Karl Bolt was picked by the Phillies in the 15th round, joining outfielder Mike Thiessen in Falcons baseball history. Thiessen went in the 42nd round to the Diamondbacks in 2001.
Bolt, who batted .349 this season and was an all-Mountain West Conference selection, said he intends to fulfill his commitment to the Air Force, serving as a logistics readiness officer at Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia.
"It has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to play pro baseball," he said. "I look forward to serving my country. If somewhere down the road, there is an opportunity to play professional baseball, I would certainly look into it."
Service academies have best year ever in draft
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PrintFor whatever else the 2007 draft is remembered for, it was by far the most productive draft ever for the three major military academies.
Army and Navy both had two players drafted, while Air Force had one. Considering the academies had a total of four players selected in all of draft history before this year, it was quite a day.
The most notable prospect among the group is Army lefthander Nick Hill, who was the No. 200 prospect in Baseball America's predraft rankings. The most decorated player in Army history went in the seventh round, 225th overall, to the Mariners.
Hill was a 47th-round pick of the Red Sox last year after his junior season. It was just a courtesy pick because he was ineligible to sign until after his senior year. He went 7-3, 1.91 with 100 strikeouts against 18 walks in 85 innings this season, topping off a career in which he established or tied 46 school and Patriot League records.
Hill is just the third Army player ever drafted, following catcher Schuyler Williamson in 2005 (Tigers, 26th round) and third baseman Mike Scioletti in 1998 (White Sox, 43rd round). Williams played one season in the Tigers organization before entering active duty, while Scioletti never signed.
Righthander Milan Dinga added to Army's history in the 10th round, going to the Angels. He was a two-way standout, batting .279 with three home runs as an outfielder and going 2-0, 0.92 with six saves as a closer. He set school and Patriot League records with 27 career saves.
Hill and Dinga were by far the earliest draft picks ever for players out of a military academy. One of the reasons is they actually will be able to play professional baseball.
Students in military academies have to serve five years after they graduate. The Army has a program that allows baseball players to spend their first two years out of school playing in the minor leagues and serving in the reserves, assigned to nearby recruiting stations. If he's still playing after two years, he can "buy out" his remaining three years in exchange for six years of reserve time.
"It's really an honor to be selected by the Mariners in the draft," Hill said from his home in Bluff City, Tenn., where he followed the draft online. "This is just the first step of where I want to be. Hopefully, someday I can make it to the major leagues."
Dinga followed the draft from his brother's home in Orlando. "This is just a dream come true," he said. "When I saw my name pop up on the computer, it was one of the greatest feelings in the world."
Navy also had two players drafted, though their chances of getting on a professional field are much murkier.
Righthander Mitch Harris actually ranked higher than Hill in BA's predraft scouting (No. 156), and was regarded as a potential third-round pick on talent. He's a 6-foot-4, athletic pitcher who throws in the mid-90s, so teams would love to get him under contract.
Unfortunately, it will be at least three years--and maybe more--before he can play. That's why he lasted until the 24th round, when the Braves selected him. Harris is a junior, so there's almost no chance he'll be able to sign this year.
Even after next year, it seems unlikely. In the past, Navy has allowed a few athletes, including David Robinson, to serve two years in active duty and then six in the reserves. But Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter issued a memo last year saying that because of the war in Iraq, the early release program would be suspended.
In fact, the other Navy player who was drafted, catcher Jonathan Johnston, graduated from Navy last year and is currently serving aboard the USS Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship. The Athletics took Johnston in the 42nd round.
Harris and Johnston are the second and third Navy players ever drafted, following lefthander Matt Foster, a 13th-round pick of the Blue Jays as a senior in 2003. The Navy did release Foster to play for parts of three seasons, but he never made it past Rookie-level Pulaski and compiled a career 1-0, 2.78 record in 23 innings. The Jays released him after last season.
Air Force also had a player picked, just the second player in the history of its program. First baseman/outfielder Karl Bolt was picked by the Phillies in the 15th round, joining outfielder Mike Thiessen in Falcons baseball history. Thiessen went in the 42nd round to the Diamondbacks in 2001.
Bolt, who batted .349 this season and was an all-Mountain West Conference selection, said he intends to fulfill his commitment to the Air Force, serving as a logistics readiness officer at Robbins Air Force Base in Georgia.
"It has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to play pro baseball," he said. "I look forward to serving my country. If somewhere down the road, there is an opportunity to play professional baseball, I would certainly look into it."
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