EIGHT FORMER BORDER CATS SELECTED IN 2016 MLB DRAFT
Thunder Bay, Ont. – Eight former Thunder Bay Border Cats were selected during the three-day MLB Draft in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Jacob Robson (Mississippi State) was the first Border Cat selected in the eighth round to the Detroit Tigers. Robson played for the 2014 Border Cats putting up 13 runs on 14 hits for a .254 batting average. The Mississippi State outfielder is the captain of his college team and has picked up a .278 batting average while notching 22 hits.
2015 Border Cats All-Star Nate Nolan (St. Mary’s of CA) was selected immediately following Robson in the eighth round to the Chicago White Sox. Nolan gained six home runs, 38 hits and 31 RBI while in Thunder Bay for the summer. Nolan, who is a junior at St. Mary’s College of California started all 58 games for the Gales during the 2016 season and notched nine homeruns, and 58 hits to earn a .261 batting average.
Menlo College’s senior infielder Max Dutto was selected in the ninth round also by the Chicago White Sox. While in Thunder Bay Dutto hit four home runs on 19 hits while with the Cats. Dutto started 51 games and helped the Oaks with 13 home runs, 35 RBI and 44 runs.
The New York Mets selected Dan Rizzie (Xavier) in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Rizzie, leads Xavier with a .317 batting average and 46 runs while hitting nine home runs. Rizzie had an impressive summer in Thunder Bay notching 55 hits and 25 RBI and earned a .357 batting average.
Fellow 2015 All-Star, Greg Weissert (Fordham) was selected in the 18th round by the New York Yankees. Greg walked only two in 46.2 innings with the Cats while striking out 52 for a 1.74 ERA. For the Rams, Weissert struck out 82 over 78 innings and allowed only 44 runs.
2013 Border Cats right-handed pitcher John Hayes (Wichita State) was also selected by the Detroit Tigers. Hayes struck out 17 in only 27.1 innings while in Thunder Bay, while at Wichita State John struck out 43 in only 36.2 innings.
Jared James (Cal Poly) who finished with the second best batting average in the league was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 34th round. James who was also a 2015 All-Star, finished with a .364 batting average putting up five homeruns, 30 RBI and a total of 85 hits.
Ty Blankmeyer (St. John’s) was the final Border Cat selected in the 2016 MLB Draft. The senior infielder played for the 2014 Border Cats and notched 63 hits and 17 RBI for a .260 bating average. While in his senior year Blankmeyer put up 13 hits and 11 runs for the Redstorm.
The Thunder Bay Border Cats congratulate all Border Cats players selected in the 2016 MLB Draft.
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The Thunder Bay Border Cats 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.bordercatsbaseball.com