MOBILE, Ala. — Four South Alabama baseball players were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft over the weekend, led by Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Jordan Patterson.
The Colorado Rockies took Patterson with the third pick of the fourth round, 109th overall, on the draft’s second day. The Kansas City Royals chose relief pitcher Kyle Bartsch with the eighth pick of the seventh round, 204th overall. Colorado also selected pitcher Dylan Stamey with the third pick of the 14th round, 409th overall, and the Chicago White Sox drafted Nolan Earley in the 22nd round with the 663rd overall pick.
Patterson Highest Jaguar Pick Since 2004
Patterson is the highest-drafted South Alabama player since Adam Lind was taken in the third round in 2004.
The junior from Mobile earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors as a utility player this spring. He ranked sixth in the conference with a .352 batting average and totaled 82 hits, 25 doubles, 69 runs and 49 RBIs. Patterson drew 41 walks and was hit by 21 pitches, leading the Sun Belt with a .485 on-base percentage. He tied for the league lead in doubles and ranked second in runs scored.
On the mound, Patterson posted a 1.84 ERA with two saves, striking out 17 and walking six in 14 2/3 innings.
Bartsch Leaves as Career Saves Leader
Bartsch, from Hurst, Texas, went 3-0 with 12 saves and a 3.12 ERA in 22 relief appearances and was named second-team All-Sun Belt. He struck out 35 and walked 11 in 26 innings while holding opponents to a .189 batting average.
His 12 saves ranked second in the conference and tied the South Alabama single-season record set by former All-American Mike Nakamura in 1998. Bartsch is the first Jaguar with 10 or more saves in consecutive seasons and leaves as the program’s career leader with 22 saves in two years.
Stamey and Earley
Stamey went 5-2 with a 2.17 ERA and four saves in 24 relief appearances in his first season at South Alabama as a junior. He struck out 62 and walked nine in 37 1/3 innings, ranking second on the team in strikeouts, and held opponents to a .209 average.
Earley, a senior from Anderson, Ind., led the Jaguars with 59 RBIs, fourth in the Sun Belt, while batting .323 with 19 doubles and 50 runs. He ranked second on the team with 76 hits, drew 36 walks, posted a .411 on-base percentage and finished among the conference’s top 10 in doubles.
Season in Review
South Alabama finished the 2013 season 43-20 overall and 20-10 in Sun Belt play and reached the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2004. The Jaguars play their home games at Stanky Field.
