Former Miners selected in MLB draft

PALMER — Central Florida’s Thad Ward and Arizona’s Cody Deason have a few things in common. Both are right-handed pitchers who helped the Mat-Su Miners win an Alaska Baseball League title, and both were selected in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Ward, one of 14 former Miners selected during the 40-round draft, was taken in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox. The Central Florida product was one of the top relievers for the Miners during a run to a 2017 league title. Ward made 17 appearances, logging a 1.72 earned run average in 31 1/3 innings. Two selections later, Houston picked Deason, who helped the Miners win the 2016 ABL crown. Deason posted a 1.89 ERA, and fanned 19 batters while walking only five.

Four players who helped the Miners win it all in 2017 were drafted. The list includes Southeast Louisiana pitcher Josh Green (Arizona, 14th round), Arizona catcher Ryan Haug (Pittsburgh, 27th round) and pitcher Andrew Nardi (Washington, 39th round). Deason was one of nine selections on Mat-Su’s championship squad in 2016. Grand Canyon pitcher Mick Vorhoff (New York Yankees, ninth round), Texas A&M pitcher Stephen Kolek (Los Angeles Dodgers, 11th round), Middle Tennessee State outfielder Austin Dennis (Houston, 20th round), Southeast Missouri State pitcher Carlos Vega (Chicago Cubs, 21st round), Lewis and Clark pitcher Gage Burland (Toronto, 22nd round), Kentucky catcher Troy Squires (Toronto, 23rd round), Washington infielder Levi Jordan (Chicago Cubs, 29th round) and Arizona State pitcher Connor Higgens (Los Angeles Angels, 30th round).

Scotty Sunitsch, a Washington State pitcher, and member of Mat-Su’s 2015 squad was also drafted by Milwaukee in the 18th round.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.