Boston College Athletics
Four Eagles Drafted on Day 3 of MLB Draft
June 10, 2015 | Baseball
Four current Eagles drafted most since 2011
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - On the third day of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft, four Boston College baseball players were taken. Recent graduate John Gorman was taken in the 31st round by the Oakland A's, rising senior Jeff Burke was chosen in the 32nd round by the San Francisco Giants incoming freshman Jacob Stevens was taken in the 33rd round by the Philadelphia Phillips and recent graduate Blake Butera was taken in the 35th round by the Tamp Bay Rays.
Gorman, the 938th overall pick, concluded his BC career with an 11-17 record, six saves and two combined shutouts. He registered a 4.59 ERA in his four years. The Norwood, Mass., native ranks on seven of BC's all-time records, including tied for fifth with 207 strikeouts, eighth with 71 appearances and fifth with 237 innings pitched. His career saves total tied for seventh while his 77 strikeouts in 2015 tied for 10th on BC's single-season list. He made 14 starts in 2014, tied for fourth in BC record books. The right-hander set a career mark in 2015 with 10 strikeouts against Florida State in the ACC opening series, allowing just two hits and two runs. He threw 7.2 of perfect baseball against Pittsburgh in 2014, striking out eight. He was voted a captain as a senior.
In three years at the Heights, Burke - the 966th overall pick - put together a 5-10 record with a 5.19 ERA, one save and two combined shutouts. Over 144 innings, he struck out 89 batters. Moving from the bullpen to a starting role in his sophomore season, the right-hander's 13 starts in 2014 tied for 10th on BC's single-season record list. His 2015 season was cut short when he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in April. In his two starts prior to injuring his arm, Burke allowed just one run, five hits and two walks while striking out three over 7.1 innings and pitched five scoreless allowing just three hits, three walks and struck out four in back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference victory against NC State and Duke, respectively. He pitched a career-high eight innings in a victory against Maryland in 2014 and struck out a career-high six against Western Michigan the same season.
Butera, drafted 1,048th overall, was a four-year starter for the Eagles, missing only nine games in four years. A mainstay at second base, the Madisonville, La., native holds the Boston College records for career walks (112) and at bats (774). He is second in BC record books for career starts (205), games played (207), and reached base 346 times in his career. His 205 hits tied for sixth and he ranked third for getting hit 29 times. He recorded four walk-off hits in his BC career and drove in the game-winning run 16 times. His 13-game hit streak in 2012 is tied for seventh in BC record books and he recorded a career-high four RBIs in the Eagles' victory over Maine on May 12. He was voted a captain his senior year.
A member of the incoming freshman class, Stevens was picked 984th overall. The right-handed pitcher was a captain for Choate Rosemary in his senior season. The Wild Boars were co-Founders League champions in 2014 and 2013 and took home the Walker Cup the last three seasons. New England Baseball Journal ranks the Dairen, Conn., native the third-best Major League prospect in this year's draft out of New England while Perfect Game USA ranks him as the best player out of Connecticut. He earned Perfect Game USA All-America honorable mention and collected Northeast All-Region first-team accolades in 2015. He also picked up Underclass high honorable mention honors from the outlet as a junior.
First baseman and outfielder Chris Shaw was taken 31st by the Giants on the first day of the 2015 draft. The four Eagles off the current roster were the most drafted since 2011, when four Eagles were also drafted. This marked the ninth year in the last 11 that multiple BC players were drafted. It is also the seventh straight year a member of the incoming freshman class was drafted.
