4 former Dutchmen were taken in the 2016 MLB Draft.
The Albany Dutchmen saw four former players drafted in 2016 Major League Baseball Draft this weekend, tying a team record set last season. Dutchmen from the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 teams were selected in the Draft, and upped the team total to 16 players drafted either before or after their time with the Albany Dutchmen.
The team's first draft pick came in the tenth round, the highest a Dutchmen player has ever been selected. Zach Remillard (Coastal Carolina) was picked by the Chicago White Sox. Remillard is arguably the most decorated player in PGCBL history, playing in three league All-Star Games in 2012, 2014, and 2015. He holds Dutchmen records in batting average, runs scored, and total bases in a season, and tops nearly every career offensive category. This season with the Chanticleers, the Cohoes native belted 18 home runs with 67 runs batted in, leading the team and placing him among the very best in the nation. Remillard and Coastal Carolina are still playing in the NCAA Tournament, facing LSU this weekend in the Super Regionals.
Following Remillard was 2014 Dutchmen pitcher Mike Kaelin (Buffalo). Kaelin saw his name called by the Los Angeles Angels in the fifteenth round. The fireballing righty pitched five times for the 2014 Dutchmen, striking out seven hitters in 5.2 innings and recording a 1.59 ERA. During his career at Buffalo, Kaelin saved 11 games, which slots him third in Buffalo history. He also made 59 total appearances in a Bulls uniform, the seventh most in program history. This past season, he served as the team's closer with five saves and a 4.11 ERA. He continued as a dominant pitcher with 44 strikeouts and only six walks in 35 innings of work.
In the 28th round, 2015 lefthanded starter Jon Reid (Azusa Pacific) was selected by the Washington Nationals. Reid was one of Albany's top starters during the 2015 season, recording a 3.02 ERA in a team-high nine starts. Last season, he became one of just seven Dutchmen pitchers to win four games in a PGCBL season, and one of five to throw a complete game on more than one occasion. He was also a top starter for Azusa Pacific during the 2016 season, posting a 3.87 ERA over 13 starts. He struck out 70 hitters with just 20 walks in 86 innings of work, and earned four victories. Reid was the sole player from Azusa Pacific selected in the 2016 Draft.
The final former Dutchmen player selected in this year's Draft was Tyler Orris (Millersville), who was popped by the Colorado Rockies in the 33rd round. Orris suited up for the Dutchmen during the 2013 season, where he played almost every game for the first Dutchmen team to post a winning record. Orris hit .315 for the 2013 Dutchmen with 22 runs scored and 16 runs batted in. The shortstop led Millersville to the Division II championship series this season, hitting .354 with 64 runs scored for the Maruaders. He began the season on a lengthy on base streak that propelled the Marauders to a 53-win campaign.
Another former Dutchmen and Coastal Carolina product Anthony Marks realized his dream, as he signed with the San Francisco Giants the day after winning the 2016 College World Series. Marks wore the Dutchmen colors during the 2013 campaign, leading the way with a .342 batting average and 55 hits. Marks was also a threat on the basepaths and in the field, leading the way with 18 stolen bases and wishing with a .990 fielding percentage. Marks was a catalyst for this years Chanticleers team, hitting in the leadoff spot for the majority of the season, taking a team high 51 walks to go with a .408 on-base percentage.
Two former Dutchmen have also continued their baseball careers, as former utiltyman Jack Wietlispach (Robert Morris University) has signed with the Joplin Blasters of the American Association of Independent Professionial Baseball and Jake Welch (Notre Dame College) has put his name on the dotted line with the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers of the United Shore Professional Baseball League.
Wietlispach, a two-time Dutchmen in 2012 and 2013, will play for the team where former Dutchmen broadcaster Ryan Murphy is now situated. Wietispach, a fan favorite during his times in Albany, recently wrapped up his collegiate career at Robert Morris in Chicago, where he finished second on the team with a .341 average, 31 runs batted in, and a .420 on-base percentage. He also led the Eagles taking 17 hit by pitches, 60 hits, and 176 at-bats.
Welch, who donned the Dutchmen uniform in 2014, was a leader of the staff during his time in the Capital City, finishing with a 2.86 ERA in five starts, second on the team. His 28.1 innings was also second, with a 2:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, allowing only less than a hit per inning. Welch was a leader of the Falcon staff for multiple seasons, most impressively going the distance in eight of his 12 starts in his senior season, throwing 74.2 innings, leading the way with seven wins.
The Dutchmen are immensely proud of these seven players for realizing a dream of being selected by a professional baseball organization. The Albany organization wishes Zach, Mike, Jon, Tyler, Anthony, Jack and Jake the best of luck in their future baseball endeavors.
