Five Kansas players offered MLB contracts

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Five Kansas baseball players were offered contracts by Major League Teams.

Four players were picked in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft last week, and one signed a free agent contract Monday.

The draft aired its first round Tuesday, June 9, with the opening three rounds of picks. Rounds 4-30 took place Wednesday and the final rounds, 31-50, were on Thursday. Seven Jayhawks, who have completed at least three years at the University, were eligible for the draft.

Mike Cummings, assistant media relations director for the Kansas team, said the draft was a waiting process, where many of the participants waited at home with friends and family for the recruiters to call.

Junior shortstop David Narodowski was the first drafted from the team. The Arizona Diamondbacks picked Narodowski in the 15th round, making him the University’s highest draft pick since 2006.

“I was just watching the draft tracker online when I got the phone call,” Narodowski said. “The Diamondbacks told me that I was going to be in the next round and to get ready for it. It has been craziness ever since.”

Narodowski signed a professional contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday.

Narodowski said he was also excited for his friend and teammate Shaeffer Hall, who was picked Wednesday by the New York Yankees.

“I was very excited when I heard the news about Hall,” Narodowski said. “He pitched very well for our team. He had a really great year.”

Junior left-handed pitcher Shaeffer Hall was the second player to be drafted from the team.

“I got the call from the New York Yankees and I thought to myself, ‘Me being drafted — the excitement doesn’t get old,’” Hall said. “I would not have ever have gotten this opportunity if it wasn’t for the Kansas Baseball team, especially my coach.”

Hall decided two days after being drafted to sign a professional contract with the Yankees and forgo his senior year at the University.

Buck Afenir signed a free agent contract with the New York Yankees Monday after not being drafted last week. He is now the second Kansas baseball player to have a professional contract with the Yankees.

Other drafted players included senior right-handed pitcher Paul J. Smyth, who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, and junior outfielder Brian Heere, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. They have yet to announce a contract with the Major League Teams.

— — Edited by Kristen Liszewski

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