Multiple Indiana Hoosiers Taken in the MLB Draft

The Indiana Hoosiers saw five baseball players taken in the 2014 MLB Draft. The Hoosiers won back-to-back Big Ten Titles and saw a pair of players taken in the 2013 Draft as well.

IU also made it to the College World Series in 2013, the first appearance by a Big Ten team in 29 years.

Catcher Kyle Schwarber was taken with the fourth overall pick by the Chicago Cubs. Schwarber played in 180 games for the Hoosiers. He batted .341 with 40 home runs and 149 RBIs. He became the highest draft pick in IU history.

Schwarber might be moved to outfield, where he has some experience. Many analysts don’t believe that Schwarber is sharp enough to play catcher at the pro level, but he certainly has the athletic ability to play either position. Some believe this pick to be a reach, but having watched Schwarber for the past two seasons he is certainly deserving of a high pick.

The worst thing that could happen to Schwarber would be a mismanagement of his position, leading to a meaningless minor league career. Something the Cubs have become known for in recent years.

First baseman Sam Travis was taken late in the second round by the Boston Red Sox. The Big Ten Player of the Year finished his IU career batting .327 with 31 home runs and 165 RBI.

Analysts called Travis one of the safest bets in the draft. He is a great hitter who rarely strikes out and gets on base regularly.

Third baseman Dustin DeMuth was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth round. He led the team in batting average in 2014, hitting .374. DeMuth also had five home runs and 40 RBI.

DeMuth started for all four years and appeared in 236 games where he had a career batting average of .344. He holds the IU record for career doubles at 63 and his 316 hits are the second most in Indiana history.

Pitchers Joey DeNato and Jake Kelzer were both selected on the final day of the draft.

DeNato was taken in the 19th round by the Philadelphia Phillies. The lefty holds a plethora of records with the Hoosiers. DeNato holds all-time career records in: wins with 37 victories, 297 strikeouts, and inning pitched at 369.1. In 2014, he posted a 13-1 record and posted a 1.82 ERA.

Kelzer was taken in the 22nd round by the New York Yankees. The redshirt freshman played in 25 games. Kelzer, 6-7 235-pounds, pitched in 31.2 innings. In his limited play, Kelzer tossed 44 strikeouts and finished with a 3.13 ERA.

The five players selected tied a record for the Hoosiers set back in 2009.