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Former Senators ink deals with MLB clubs
There is a big difference between just talking about how baseball players are being trained to play professionally some day and the players actually making it happen.Earlier this month, three former Haymarket Senators of the wooden bat Valley Baseball League Senators inked deals with Major League Baseball clubs, joining the ranks of seven past Senators who have gone on to play professional baseball.
"It's not just the organization, but the league itself. I mean, it kind of shows what caliber player we're getting in this league and I think it's good for Haymarket also for the people in the community to see some guys that could go on and have some bright futures in baseball," said Haymarket manager Ryan Fecteau, now in his second season at the helm of the ball club.
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Scott Kreiger, a Louisville Slugger second-team all-American senior left-fielder from George Mason University, in the 19th round of the MLB draft.
Kreiger may be the Patriot's all-time greatest hitter, having set school records for career hits, run, home runs and total bases, according to MLB.com. He cranked 20 homers for the Patriots in his senior year this past season and clubbed 80 RBIs on his way to earning a .372 batting average and .757 slugging average.
According to his former Senators coach Fecteau, Krieger is "a real high-character kid. He works his butt off. He's always in the gym, working on his extra hitting."
Former teammate Grant Sasser, one of three Senators players from the 2008 season to return this year, said Kreiger was "one of the guys where he'd be an hour early and be here an hour later," working on the small stuff.
"He would just put in the time, simple as that."
Kreiger was joined in the the draft by classmate and 2007 Haymarket alum Mike Modica, a left-handed pitcher for the Patriots who went to the Houston Astros in the 24th round.
This is the third time Modica has been selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft according to the “Courier Post Online,” a news organization out of Modica's home state of New Jersey.
Astros general manager Ed Wade has had scouts watching Modica for years. The Astros attempted to draft him last year and, when Wade was GM of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, Wade unsuccessfully attempted to lure him during his senior year of high school in 2005.
An article in the “Philadelphia Inquirer” reported Modica as saying, "I don't know if Mr. Wade is the one pulling the trigger, but obviously the chances are very slim for this to happen and I owe him big-time. I was really happy to go and didn't want to sit around [today]."
Meanwhile, Paul Heidler of the 2008 Senators signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Yankees and is set to report to the team's minor league complex in Tampa.
Heidler, an outfielder and right-handed pitcher from Warrenton, hit .284 with five home runs and 65 RBIs for Longwood University in Virginia throughout his first three years of college. He finished his Longwood career leading the pitching staff in winning percentage and ERA.
According to the Longwood Web site, Heidler has a 93-mph fastball, sharp breaking ball, and good mound presence.
Sasser described Heidler as a true student of the game.
"He was always into it. For him, it wasn't a dull moment," said Sasser.
Fecteau said Heidler was able to "light up some guns" once he converted from an outfielder to a pitcher
"Well, with Paul, it's more projection," explained Fecteau. "He's not really polished for a pitcher because he's been an outfielder his whole life, but if he puts in his time and a couple years in the minors, I think they can develop him."
Kreiger, Modica and Heidler joined Dom Duggan ('05, Giants), Jason Kiley ('05, Yankees), Mike McKenna ('05, Rays), Luis Bautista ('06, Cubs), Josh Judy ('06-'07, Indians), Jason Bour ('07, Reds) and David Genao ('07, Rays) as Haymarket alumni who have signed contracts with MLB clubs.
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