The Rays draft Miles Mastrobuoni in the 14th round

(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers’ Miles Mastrobuoni was drafted in the 14th round (420 overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Mastrobuoni, a native of Livermore, Calif., finished his junior season at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he hit .364, with 51 runs, 85 hits, 14 doubles, 40 RBI and stole 18 bases in 61 games with the Wolf Pack. He was named to the 2015 All-Mountain West second team.

Mastrobuoni played for the Honkers in 2015, where he hit .294, with 35 runs, five doubles, 29 RBI and stole 11 bases in 58 games.

“Miles plays a premium position and plays it very well,” said Honkers’ Field Manager Trevor Hairgrove, who coached Mastrobuoni in Rochester. “I knew every time a ball was hit his way it was an out.”

Hairgrove was ecstatic to see Mastrobuoni progress in the batter’s box last season, and it showed in his college season. He raised his average 18 points from his sophomore season at the College of San Mateo to his junior season at Nevada.

“I enjoyed watching him progress with the bat last summer, and carry it into his college season. He worked very hard at it, and it is great to see him get drafted.” Hairgrove said.

The Rochester Honkers take on the St. Cloud Rox tonight, with a first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. The Honkers will then travel to La Crosse to battle the Loggers Sunday night, with a first pitch set for 5:05 p.m. The Honkers next home game is Monday, when the Loggers will come to Mayo Field for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Monday is MN Bankers Association Night!

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 The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com