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Toledo, Ohio native A.J. Achter (Michigan State)
has always been a Detroit Tigers fan. On Wednesday,
Achter learned that he may have to switch his
American League Central division allegiance, as the
Minnesota Twins selected the junior right-hander in
the 46th round (1,395 overall) of the Major League
Baseball Draft.
Achter was one of four members of the Cape Cod
Baseball League's 2010 Cotuit Kettleers that was
finally able to relax Friday evening at the team's
annual Welcome Party, two days after the completion
of the draft. The annual event held at the Horace
Mann School in Marstons Mills welcomed the
back-to-back league runners-up to town with a meal
catered by the Outback Steakhouse. Players were
introduced to the community and participated in
skits.
Junior first baseman Paul Hoilman (East Tennessee
State) was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the
49th round (1,841 overall). Shortstop Taylor Black
(Kentucky) went to the St. Louis Cardinals in the
28th round (859 overall), and outfielder Brooks
Pinckard (Baylor) was an 18th round (550 overall)
selection of the Chicago Cubs. Third-year Kettleer
Kevin Patterson (Auburn) had yet to arrive in Cotuit
since being picked by Tampa Bay in the 23rd round
(701 overall).
Achter hoped to be called sooner after going 4-4
with a 4.20 earned run average and two complete
games this spring for the Spartans. The 6-foot-5
hurler is a three-year starter at Michigan State.
“I'm just grateful to get picked and that the
Twins saw enough in me to select me,” Achter said.
“Even though it was late, I'm still honored and
privileged.”
Achter went undrafted out of high school and is
spending his first summer on the Cape. According to
Michigan State's athletics website, Achter tossed
three no-hitters in high school.
“Its a reward for what I've worked so hard for my
whole life,” Achter said. “I don't know what's
going to come out of it this summer but it's
definitely rewarding. It's something that nobody
will ever be able to take away from me.”
Hoilman belted a career-high 25 home runs for the
Buccaneers this spring to go along with 24 doubles.
He started all 60 games and finished with a .421
batting average. Hoilman has improved his power
numbers and batting average in each of his three
seasons for ETSU and like Achter, was hoping to be
picked sooner but still grateful.
“It was definitely later than I expected, but
still a good feeling,” Hoilman said.
Hoilman was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Male
Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a Second Team
All-American. He was also the conference's Player of
the Year and owns ETSU's career records for home
runs and RBI's.
Patterson was selected to the Cape League's Western
Division All-Star team in 2008 and was slated to
participate in last year's Home Run Derby at Fenway
Park but could not attend due to illness. The junior
passed on a 24th round offer from the Chicago White
Sox in 2007. He had career-high's in home runs (16)
and batting average (.315) this spring for the
Tigers.
Black led Kentucky with 10 home runs in Southeastern
Conference play this spring. He was a Freshman
All-American at Charleston Southern before
transferring to Kentucky. Black played for the
Mankato Moondogs of the Northwoods League last
summer.
Pinckard swiped a team-high 18 bases this spring for
the Bears and was caught just twice. He also led the
team with six triples.
The players will weigh their options in the coming
weeks and hope to further impress their prospective
Major League organizations.
“I'm happy to be here,” Hoilman said.
“Hopefully I can get a little better while I'm
here and help my stock a little bit.”
“I'm just looking forward to getting better and
helping Cotuit win a championship,” Achter said.
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