Miners selected in MLB Draft

PALMER — Ryan Kemp and AJ Holland will be playing baseball this summer — either with the Miners or in the minors.

On Wednesday, the Saint Joseph’s juniors made their Mat-Su Miners debut during a 6-4 win over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots just a day after each right-hander was selected in the top 16 rounds of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.

“It’s awesome for them. We’re happy for them,” Mat-Su head coach Brian Yocke said of Kemp and Holland, who join outfielder Michael Suiter as the three members of the 2011 Miners taken in the 50-round MLB Draft. “The next couple of days will be kind of nerve wracking to see if Holland and Kemp will sign or not.”

Both have the potential to sign, thanks to where they were selected. The Cincinnati Reds grabbed Kemp in the 14th round. The Atlanta Braves made Holland their selection in the 16th round.

“Either way, it won’t be a bad decision by either of them,” Yocke said. “It’s a great honor to be drafted. It’s a great honor to play up here. Either way, they won’t go wrong.”

Kemp graduated into the role of Saint Joseph’s closer as a junior. The Colombia, Md., native saved four games while recording a 1-2 mark with a 3.14 earned run average. Kemp posted a 1.72 ERA in Atlantic 10 play. He also appeared in 25 games, which is good enough for second all-time in team history.

Holland established himself as one of the Hawks’ top starters during his junior campaign. The Margate, N.J., native finished second on the team with 50 strikeouts and was third with 60.2 innings pitched.

Suiter, a Santa Clara recruit, recently capped a stellar career at Punahou School in Hawaii. Cincinnati drafted the 2010 Gatorade Hawaii Player of the Year in the 37th round.

Eight former Miners were also selected, including Arkansas catcher James McCann, who was picked in the second round by Detroit. McCann suited up for the Miners in the summer of 2009, but shortly after arriving in the Valley, McCann suffered an injury as was lost for the summer.

“He’s a heck of a catcher,” Miners general manager Pete Christopher said.

McCann made 59 starts as a junior, finishing second on the Razorbacks with a .306 batting average. The Santa Barbara, Calif., native was also second on the squad with 14 doubles and six home runs. McCann was also a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher. McCann is the highest former Miner selected in the draft since former Oklahoma hurler Garrett Richards was taken 42nd by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2009 draft.

In addition to drafting Kemp and Suiter, Cincinnati also picked Kansas State right-hander James Allen in the seventh round. Allen was one of the top closers in college baseball as a junior, setting team records with 17 saves during the season and 31 career saves. He now ranks fourth in Big 12 history in career saves.

Allen pitched 20 innings in 2010 for the Miners, finishing 1-3 with 11 strikeouts and a 2.70 earned run average.

Allen is one of three players from the 2010 squad to be selected. St. John’s infielder Matt Wessinger was taken by Kansas City in the 37th round. Arkansas lefthander Geoffrey Davenport was chosen by Cleveland in the 43rd round. Wessinger hit .248 for the Miners. He collected 32 hits and 20 runs, and was one of only three players to see action in all of Mat-Su’s 45 games.

Davenport was solid for the Miners, recording a 1-0 mark and 1.49 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 36 innings of work. He only walked eight hitters.

The three players helped Mat-Su win a second straight Alaska Baseball League title.

A trio of players from Mat-Su’s title-winning team in 2009 were also taken.

Cincinnati took University of Cincinnati pitcher Dan Jensen in the 20th round. Florida State outfielder James Ramsey was picked in the 22nd round by Minnesota. Faulkner lefty RL Eisenbach was chosen by San Diego in the 23rd round.

Christopher said he was surprised where Ramsey was chosen.

“I thought he might go a little higher,” Christopher said.

Ramsey led the Seminoles with a .364 average. He was also first on the team with 86 hits, 10 home runs and 66 RBI.

The Alpharetta, Ga., native was also a top player in the ABL, leading the Miners with 14 doubles and 26 RBI. He hit .314 in 42 games. Christopher believes Ramsey will have a bright future.

“He’s got the work ethic and the smarts to really excel,” Christopher said.

Eisenbach led the Miners with five wins and 47 strikeouts in 2009. Jensen recorded a 1.89 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 19 innings.

Oklahoma right-hander Michael Rocha, a member of the 2008 squad, was also drafted.

This marks the fourth straight year that at least 10 players with Mat-Su ties were drafted.

Current and former Mat-Su Miners drafted

Second round: 76. Detroit- James McCann, Arkansas, C (2009)

Seventh round: 235. Cincinnati- James Allen, Kansas State, RHP (2010)

14th round: 445. Cincinnati- Ryan Kemp, St. Joseph’s, RHP (2011)

16th round: 506. Atlanta- AJ Holland, St. Joseph’s, RHP (2011)

20th round: 625. Cincinnati- Dan Jensen, Cincinnati, RHP, (2009)

22nd round: 688. Minnesota- James Ramsey, Florida, RF, (2010)

23rd round: 713. San Diego- RL Eisenbach, Faulkner, LHP (2009)

26th round: 811. Philadelphia- Michael Rocha, Oklahoma, RHP (2008)

37th round: 1116. Kansas City- Matt Wessinger, St. John’s, INF (2010)

37th round: 1135. Cincinnati- Michael Suiter, Punahou School (Hawaii), OF (2011)

43rd round: 1298. Cleveland- Geoffrey Davenport, Arkansas, LHP (2010)