2019 Birdball Draft Recap
June 05, 2019 | Baseball
Alu and Gill joined fifth rounder Metzdorf as day three draft picks.
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College third baseman Jake Alu (Hamilton, N.J.) and right-handed pitcher Matt Gill (Simsbury, Conn.) each heard their names called on the third and final day of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The Eagles totaled three draft picks on the week and have had three or more players selected in each of the last five years; totaling 19 picks since 2015.
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The Washington Nationals took Alu in the 24th round with the 723rd overall pick. He was an All-ACC Third Team selection in his senior season; hitting .343, which ranks eighth in the league, with 51 runs and 18 doubles. Alu finished his BC career with 176 hits and a .302 batting average. He is the first Eagle in program history drafted by the Nationals.
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Gill was drafted with the 804th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 27th round. He began his junior season in the Boston College rotation before ending in the bullpen, where he closed out six saves as the Eagle closer. Overall, Gill went 3-3 with a 6.90 earned run average and 35 strikeouts in 60 innings across 29 appearances, including nine starts. He joins Jesse Adams (2016) and Mike Dennhardt (2011) as the third Eagle ever drafted by the Reds.
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On day two of the draft, left-handed pitcher Dan Metzdorf (Burlington, Mass.) was selected in the fifth round by the Chicago White Sox with the 140th overall pick. He became the ninth player in BC history to be selected in the first five rounds.
Right-handed pitcher John Witkowski (Melrose, Mass.) was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on June 27. In his final season at BC, Witkowski made 18 appearances, including three starts, with a 1-1 record and three saves. He struck out 29 batters and walked just five across 28 innings pitched.
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The Washington Nationals took Alu in the 24th round with the 723rd overall pick. He was an All-ACC Third Team selection in his senior season; hitting .343, which ranks eighth in the league, with 51 runs and 18 doubles. Alu finished his BC career with 176 hits and a .302 batting average. He is the first Eagle in program history drafted by the Nationals.
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Gill was drafted with the 804th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 27th round. He began his junior season in the Boston College rotation before ending in the bullpen, where he closed out six saves as the Eagle closer. Overall, Gill went 3-3 with a 6.90 earned run average and 35 strikeouts in 60 innings across 29 appearances, including nine starts. He joins Jesse Adams (2016) and Mike Dennhardt (2011) as the third Eagle ever drafted by the Reds.
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On day two of the draft, left-handed pitcher Dan Metzdorf (Burlington, Mass.) was selected in the fifth round by the Chicago White Sox with the 140th overall pick. He became the ninth player in BC history to be selected in the first five rounds.
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Right-handed pitcher Thomas Lane (Georgetown, Mass.) was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an undrafted free agent on June 5. As a senior, Lane set the BC single -season record for pitching appearances at 37. He went 4-1 on the mound with two saves, a 5.05 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41 innings.Right-handed pitcher John Witkowski (Melrose, Mass.) was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on June 27. In his final season at BC, Witkowski made 18 appearances, including three starts, with a 1-1 record and three saves. He struck out 29 batters and walked just five across 28 innings pitched.
Players Mentioned
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