July 21, 2011
MLB draft: First-round draft picks put UConn on the map
by Roger Brown/
Right-hander Matt Barnes was the Red Sox' top draft pick, going 19th overall. (photo: UConn Athletics)
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There are good days, and then there are days like the University of Connecticut baseball program had June 6.
That’s when two UConn players — outfielder George Springer and right-handed pitcher Matt Barnes — were selected in the first round of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft.
The Houston Astros took Springer, a New Britain, Conn., native, with the 11th overall pick. The Boston Red Sox made Barnes, who lives in Bethel, Conn., the 19th selection.
The cherry was added shortly after the draft’s first round was complete, when UConn advanced to an NCAA Super Regional for the first time in school history by beating Clemson, 14-1, in the Clemson Regional’s championship game. UConn earned the right to face defending national champion South Carolina in a best-of-three series that determined which team advanced to the College World Series.
“(Barnes) told me in the fifth inning, and I was blown away,” Springer said. “I don’t have any words to describe it (being drafted that high). It’s an unbelievable feeling, especially topped off by a huge win in the last three games for our team and program.”
Springer and Barnes became the first Big East teammates taken in the first round since 1989, when the Red Sox picked Seton Hall’s Mo Vaughn and Kevin Morton — both Norwalk, Conn. natives — with the 23rd and 30th selections, respectively.
Charles Nagy is the only other UConn player who was drafted in the first round. The Cleveland Indians took Nagy with the 17th pick in the 1988 draft.
“(Baseball) isn’t as popular as basketball and football (at UConn),” Barnes said. “Our coaches have done a great job getting us to the level to be nationally recognized. A lot of people on campus are starting to pay attention and recognize what we’re doing. They’re really happy for us.
“It’s tough playing in a cold-weather state. People don’t really want to come sit in coats and gloves and hats for two hours. We make the best of it. I think making it to a regional last year and a Super Regional this year has really helped us grow as a program and a university.”
Springer, 21, was named the 2011 Big East Player of the Year. He entered the Super Regional as UConn’s career leader in home runs (46) and runs scored (220). He established the program’s single-season record for runs scored (84) in 2010. Springer became UConn’s first Big East Rookie of the Year in 2009.
The Minnesota Twins drafted Springer out of Avon Old Farms in the 48th round of the 2008 draft. Professional scouts describe him as a rare blend of power and speed.
“Going into the year, he was a priority guy for us, and I think as this thing unfolded we realized there were five or six guys that weren’t getting to us, and then we circled a group of 8-10 guys and have to get those in the right order,” Astros assistant general manager/director of scouting Bobby Heck told MLB.com. “When the board played out, he was the top guy. We’re really happy to have him.”
The Red Sox selected Barnes with a compensation pick they received from the Detroit Tigers for losing Victor Martinez to free agency last November. He played for Wareham in the Cape Cod League each of the past two summers.
“As much as I would have loved to be with my family and friends, it was great to be with my teammates and experience not only the draft with them but winning a regional and going to the Super Regional,” Barnes said. “Me and George are really good friends. We always live together on the road. We live in the same building back on campus. We played together in college and in the summer. That’s the great thing about where our friendship is at. Our friendship isn’t based on baseball.”
Barnes, who turned 21 June 17, is UConn’s all-time career strikeout leader with 247 and ranks third in victories (24).
Barnes, who grew up rooting for the New York Yankees, was named the 2011 Big East Pitcher of the Year.
“As much as I’ve always been a Yankees fan, I’ve always respected the Red Sox,” he said. “They have a great organization. They’re a great team. They develop their players well.”
UConn, which was swept by South Carolina in the Super Regional, had eight other players picked in this year’s draft:
►Shortstop Nick Ahmed of East Longmeadow, Mass. (Braves, second round)
►Outfielder John Andreoli of Shrewsbury, Mass. (Cubs, 17th round)
►Pitcher Greg Nappo of Madison, Conn. (Marlins, 18th round)
►Pitcher Keith Vance (White Sox, 19th round)
►First baseman Mike Nemeth (Brewers, 21st round)
►Pitcher David Fischer (Giants, 30th round)
►Catcher Doug Elliott of Rocky Hill, Conn. (Brewers, 35th round)
►Pitcher Elliott Glynn (Brewers, 39th round)
“The hardest part for me is not knowing who’s going to be back, but I guess that’s a good problem to have,” UConn coach Jim Penders said.
“George, Matt and Nick — it’s gonna be tough to see them go. Some others have some tough decisions.
“Each one of those juniors, if they do leave the program, they left it better than they found it. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for.”
This article originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of New England Baseball Journal.
Roger Brown can be reached at feedback@baseballjournal.com
