More Huskers selected in MLB draft
Dan Jennings’ summer took an interesting turn Friday. But, for now, his plans remain unchanged.
The Nebraska junior pitcher, selected by Florida in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft, still plans to head east in a few days to play for the Cotuit (Mass.) Kettleers in the collegiate Cape Cod League.
What Jennings shows on the mound out there will go a long way toward determining whether he returns for a senior season with the Huskers or signs with the Marlins, who have until Aug. 15 to seal a deal.
“I’m headed to summer ball and see what happens,” Jennings said from his parents’ West Des Moines, Iowa, home Friday afternoon.
The 6-foot-3 Jennings — whose left-handed delivery helped him to a 6-3 record, with four saves and a 3.39 ERA in 23 appearances this season — thought he had a decent chance of being taken during the draft’s first six rounds Thursday.
Had he gone in the top four rounds, he said the typical signing bonus players in those slots command would have made turning pro a no-brainer.
Now, he’ll take some time to mull over what will definitely be one of the biggest decisions of his young life.
Jennings was the 268th overall pick. A year ago, Nebraska’s Tony Watson went in the same round as the 278th pick and signed for $85,000. Florida’s ninth-round selection in 2007, a junior college player taken in the 286th spot, got a $40,000 bonus.
Money aside, only three of the 30 players picked in the ninth round last year opted not to sign.
“I’ve not had any life-changing decisions such as this,” Jennings acknowledged. “But as much as it seems like it’d be no big deal to go (ahead) and play in the pros, Nebraska’s such a good place.
“… If I came back, it would be me thinking I could finish up a career and improve my draft stock.”
Another player with Nebraska ties was in the same boat at the start of the week, but no longer.
Lincoln Southeast graduate and Husker recruit Jake Kuebler, picked in the 17th round by Kansas City, said Friday he planned on signing.
And, no, Kuebler joked, the graduation money he received from cousin Alex Gordon — the 2005 national player of the year for the Huskers and now the Royals’ starting third baseman — didn’t sway his decision. It was Kansas City’s willingness to meet his signing-bonus requirement, regardless of the round he was drafted.
And, so, Nebraska will be losing a right-handed pitcher named honorary co-captain of the Super-State team after he went 7-0 with a 0.17 ERA this past spring.
NU coach Mike Anderson said Friday that none of the three Husker recruits drafted Thursday had made final decisions on their futures.
Curtis Petersen, a right-handed pitcher from Aubrey, Texas, was taken in the fourth round by Florida; right-handed pitcher Shane Dyer of South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College was a sixth-round pick of Tampa Bay; and Khiry Cooper, a Nebraska football recruit from Shreveport, La., who also planned to play baseball for the Huskers, went to the Los Angeles Angels in the fifth round.
NU junior right-hander Aaron Pribanic, drafted by Seattle in the third round, has indicated he will sign.
Nebraska had three seniors drafted Friday — second baseman Jake Opitz (12th round, Chicago Cubs), right-hander Johnny Dorn (14th round, Florida) and right-handed pitcher Thad Weber (16th round, Detroit).
Senior catcher Mitch Abeita was grabbed in the 19th round by the New York Yankees, junior left-hander Zach Herr was picked by San Diego in the 38th round and Kash Kalkowski, a right-handed pitcher-infielder from Grand Island and the other honorary co-captain of the Super-State team, was chosen by Tampa Bay in round No. 49.
There were numerous players from other Nebraska colleges chosen.
Creighton’s ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte was drafted by the Yankees the 20th round, while Wayne State pitcher Nick Schumacher was drafted by San Diego Padres in round No. 28.
Venditte, who was 9-3 with seven saves and a 3.34 ERA, was the Yankees’ choice last year in the 45th round.
Venditte, from Omaha, led the Missouri Valley Conference with 101 strikeouts and 37 appearances. He was chosen a preseason All-American by several media outlets and was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Schumacher, a native of Nebraska City, was the 855th overall pick.
Schumacher went 13-2 with a 2.36 ERA. He was chosen the NCAA Division II Central Region pitcher of the year and a third- team All-American.
Other Nebraska state college players selected included three Nebraska-Omaha players — right-handed pitcher Tyler Cloyd (Phillies, 556th overall), left-hander Timothy Huber of (Royals, 805th) and outfielder Bryan Frew (Phillies), 1,306th) — and Bellevue pitcher Nick Love (Mariners, 972nd).
Lincoln Saltdogs reliever Jason Jarvis was chosen by the in the 23rd round.
The Nebraska junior pitcher, selected by Florida in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft, still plans to head east in a few days to play for the Cotuit (Mass.) Kettleers in the collegiate Cape Cod League.
What Jennings shows on the mound out there will go a long way toward determining whether he returns for a senior season with the Huskers or signs with the Marlins, who have until Aug. 15 to seal a deal.
“I’m headed to summer ball and see what happens,” Jennings said from his parents’ West Des Moines, Iowa, home Friday afternoon.
The 6-foot-3 Jennings — whose left-handed delivery helped him to a 6-3 record, with four saves and a 3.39 ERA in 23 appearances this season — thought he had a decent chance of being taken during the draft’s first six rounds Thursday.
Had he gone in the top four rounds, he said the typical signing bonus players in those slots command would have made turning pro a no-brainer.
Now, he’ll take some time to mull over what will definitely be one of the biggest decisions of his young life.
Jennings was the 268th overall pick. A year ago, Nebraska’s Tony Watson went in the same round as the 278th pick and signed for $85,000. Florida’s ninth-round selection in 2007, a junior college player taken in the 286th spot, got a $40,000 bonus.
Money aside, only three of the 30 players picked in the ninth round last year opted not to sign.
“I’ve not had any life-changing decisions such as this,” Jennings acknowledged. “But as much as it seems like it’d be no big deal to go (ahead) and play in the pros, Nebraska’s such a good place.
“… If I came back, it would be me thinking I could finish up a career and improve my draft stock.”
Another player with Nebraska ties was in the same boat at the start of the week, but no longer.
Lincoln Southeast graduate and Husker recruit Jake Kuebler, picked in the 17th round by Kansas City, said Friday he planned on signing.
And, no, Kuebler joked, the graduation money he received from cousin Alex Gordon — the 2005 national player of the year for the Huskers and now the Royals’ starting third baseman — didn’t sway his decision. It was Kansas City’s willingness to meet his signing-bonus requirement, regardless of the round he was drafted.
And, so, Nebraska will be losing a right-handed pitcher named honorary co-captain of the Super-State team after he went 7-0 with a 0.17 ERA this past spring.
NU coach Mike Anderson said Friday that none of the three Husker recruits drafted Thursday had made final decisions on their futures.
Curtis Petersen, a right-handed pitcher from Aubrey, Texas, was taken in the fourth round by Florida; right-handed pitcher Shane Dyer of South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College was a sixth-round pick of Tampa Bay; and Khiry Cooper, a Nebraska football recruit from Shreveport, La., who also planned to play baseball for the Huskers, went to the Los Angeles Angels in the fifth round.
NU junior right-hander Aaron Pribanic, drafted by Seattle in the third round, has indicated he will sign.
Nebraska had three seniors drafted Friday — second baseman Jake Opitz (12th round, Chicago Cubs), right-hander Johnny Dorn (14th round, Florida) and right-handed pitcher Thad Weber (16th round, Detroit).
Senior catcher Mitch Abeita was grabbed in the 19th round by the New York Yankees, junior left-hander Zach Herr was picked by San Diego in the 38th round and Kash Kalkowski, a right-handed pitcher-infielder from Grand Island and the other honorary co-captain of the Super-State team, was chosen by Tampa Bay in round No. 49.
There were numerous players from other Nebraska colleges chosen.
Creighton’s ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte was drafted by the Yankees the 20th round, while Wayne State pitcher Nick Schumacher was drafted by San Diego Padres in round No. 28.
Venditte, who was 9-3 with seven saves and a 3.34 ERA, was the Yankees’ choice last year in the 45th round.
Venditte, from Omaha, led the Missouri Valley Conference with 101 strikeouts and 37 appearances. He was chosen a preseason All-American by several media outlets and was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Schumacher, a native of Nebraska City, was the 855th overall pick.
Schumacher went 13-2 with a 2.36 ERA. He was chosen the NCAA Division II Central Region pitcher of the year and a third- team All-American.
Other Nebraska state college players selected included three Nebraska-Omaha players — right-handed pitcher Tyler Cloyd (Phillies, 556th overall), left-hander Timothy Huber of (Royals, 805th) and outfielder Bryan Frew (Phillies), 1,306th) — and Bellevue pitcher Nick Love (Mariners, 972nd).
Lincoln Saltdogs reliever Jason Jarvis was chosen by the in the 23rd round.
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