Five Bearkats Ink Professional Contracts
6/25/2015 2:52:00 PM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE – In the wake of a program-tying five Sam Houston State players selected in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft, big league affiliates received a hint more Bearkat orange as each player reached an agreement with his respective organization, first-year head coach Matt Deggs said Thursday.
With Logan Boyd, Andrew Godail, Ryan Brinley, Collin Yelich and Alex Bisacca all inking contracts, 12 Bearkats have signed to play professional baseball over the past two seasons.
“To have 12 guys drafted or sign professional contracts over the last two years is a major feat and accomplishment for a mid-major,” Deggs said. “It goes to show you that a school like Sam Houston State can play bigger than it really is.”
Boyd, an Humble native, was selected in the 19th round by the Boston Red Sox. The left-handed junior posted a 6-4 record and 3.49 ERA in 15 starts this season and a 3.93 ERA in 149 innings pitching for his career.
“Boyd worked really hard,” Deggs said. “He's a guy that had a really good freshman year and kind of had a hiccup as a sophomore. He came back a man on a mission as a junior and had a great year … expect big things out of him. I think he'll continue to climb. His better days are in front of him.”
Godail landed with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 26th round following a strong 2015 campaign. The left-handed senior from The Woodlands led the squad with 88 strikeouts in 97 2-3 innings, limiting opponents to a .249 batting average.
“He attacks the strike zone,” Deggs said. “You never saw him run to the safe side of the plate. He is a guy that worked very hard at his craft and really deserved this opportunity. He reminds me a lot of Mike Hampton. He's very low to the ground but he's strong and has a lot of attack with a quality three-pitch mix.”
Brinley went one round later to the Washington Nationals, making the first time a Sam player has been selected by the Nats. The dual infielder and pitcher secured a 2.74 ERA on the hill in four starts and 21 appearances during 2014. Through two seasons, the junior from Georgetown owned a 4.20 ERA while hitting .194 and tallying 15 RBI in 108 at-bats this season.
“He's a kid with a lot of talent and a lot of tools,” Deggs said. “We kind of had to lean on him as a two-way guy this year just because we were thin on the infield and I thought he filled in admirably. His true craft is on the mound and that's where his talent really is. He can get up to 95 and he'll continue to develop a solid second and third pitch. The sky is the limit for him.”
Yelich was taken in the 29th round by the Atlanta Braves after being named Southland Conference Honorable Mention and hitting .285 as a junior. The reliable backstop from Westlake Village, Calif., recorded 306 putouts and a .977 fielding percentage in his first season after transferring from Orange Coast College.
“He's an incredible kid and incredible worker,” Deggs said. “He handled his business like a professional while he was here. His brother is a Gold Glove winner for the Marlins. Collin's game came a long way this year. He brought a lot of consistency back there. I know he'll go out and compete and grind.”
Bisacca closed out the Bearkat draftees with a 35th-round selection by the New York Yankees. The right-handed senior finished his season with a 2.35 ERA and 7-2 record in 26 relief appearances and two starts. He held opponents to a .206 batting average while striking out 57 in 69 innings.
“He was a difficult matchup for every guy he faced all year,” Deggs said. “He was our 'everyday Eddie' and was just a go-to guy. He was the guy you were looking for in any tight spot. The Yankees will value that and see that right away. He will be a guy you can lean on and go to.”
The upperclassmen signees played a significant role in the Bearkats recent dominance highlighted by six NCAA Regional appearances over the past nine seasons.
“I'm really proud of these guys,” Deggs said. “I thought we could have had two or three more that deserved the chance to go out and play. It speaks volumes about our program and where it's headed.”
