Thursday, June 11, 2009

Pittsburgh Boys In the Draft

-- Gus Benusa, a center fielder who just finished his senior year at Riverview High School, was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the eighth round with the 237th overall pick. Benusa is the highest local player drafted since the Pirates took Pine-Richland's Neil Walker in the first round in 2004.

At 6 feet, 190 pounds, Benusa hit .638 (30 for 47) with seven home runs this season, leading all WPIAL and City League players in batting average. He throws and bats left-handed and had signed with Duquesne. He plans to turn pro now.

-- Ryan Robowski of Uniontown, a lefty pitcher, was taken in the 16th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 12 saves with the NAIA Ohio Dominican. Robowski appeared in 22 games and pitched 38-1/3 innings, allowing 30 hits, striking out 53, and walking 12.

-- Cleveland State LHP Josh Hungerman, who pitched for NA, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 17th round. The Rox must like him; they chose him in the 50th round last season, but couldn't get him to sign. This year, as a senior, Hungerman went 5-6 with a 4.60 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 13 starts. He also batted .345 with 11 homers and 50 RBI.

Hey, we're in-laws; GW and the gang is proud as punch, though not as puffed as Josh's parents Dave and Becky.

-- Chris Trembley was tabbed in the 19th round by the San Diego Padres. Trembley, a shortstop, attended Seneca Valley and Youngstown (Ohio) Boardman highs. He hit .347 with two homers and 33 RBI as a senior at Kent State University.

-- Seton-LaSalle RHP Derek Law was chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 28th round. Law has signed to play with Miami Dade College, and is undecided yet about going to school or turning pro.

-- Tarran Senay, an OF from South Park, was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 38th round. He was rated as the #85 national high school prospect by Baseball America and considered a high-round draft choice because of his 6-foot-1, 210-pound physique and raw power.

But Senay, a receiver on South Park's football team, had wrist surgery. So he's most likely to honor his committment to North Carolina State.

-- Ben Bechtol, Neshannock High C, was taken in the 40th round by Detroit. Guess Jim Leyland caught a couple of high school games, hey? Bechtol led the WPIAL with 39 RBI and hit .500 with four home runs. He signed to play for Jefferson State CC in Alabama.

-- Pitt had two players selected; junior 2B Chris Sedon was taken in the 10th round by the Detroit Tigers, and junior LHP Nathan Reed was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round.

Sedon had a record-setting season for the Panthers after transferring from Lackawanna CC. He hit .398 with 22 home runs and 62 RBI and was named a Louisville Slugger TPX first-team All-American.

Reed was the top Pitt prospect in the preseason, but slumped as a junior, posting a 4-6 record and a 6.12 ERA. His fastball reaches 92 mph and he also uses a changeup and curveball.

-- Mark Tracy, a junior C from Duquesne U., was selected in the 49th round by Colorado. Tracy led the Dukes with 14 home runs and 46 RBI in 2009. The Pepperdine transfer made 52 starts at catcher, first base and designated hitter, batting .250 (51-204) with six doubles, three triples, 34 runs scored, 23 walks and four stolen bases. He's former manager Jim Tracy's son.

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