Two current and three former Honkers were selected in the 2015 MLB First Year Player Draft.
Matt Kent, a pitcher from Texas A&M, was the first Honker on this year’s roster selected. He went to the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round with the 381st pick. Kent played with the Honkers the last three years, and was Co-Pitcher of the Year in the Northwoods League in 2014.
Shortstop Adam Walton from Illinois was the other current Honker selected. Walton was picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th round with the 613th pick overall. Walton, an All-Big Ten selection at shortstop this year, has yet to play for the Honkers this season as the Illini made a run to the NCAA Super Regional.
Former Honkers selected on Wednesday included LJ Brewster (Hawaii) in the 22nd round by the Miami Marlins and Anthony Sequeira (Oral Roberts) in the 23rd round by the Philadelphia Phillies.
The highest draftee of 2015 with Honkers connections was Michael Freeman (Oklahoma State) who pitched for the Honkers in 2014. Freeman was selected by the Houston Astros in the 7th round with the 199th overall pick.
The Honkers next home game is tomorrow, Thursday, June 11th, for a double header against Alexandria beginning at 6:05. There will be a Lanyard Giveaway, and it will be Walk in the Light Church Night.The two seven-inning games will be the start of four straight days at home for the Honkers, with another Matchup against Alexandria on Friday before welcoming in Duluth for a weekend series.
The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league are viewable via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com.
