Photo: Guido Knudson '10 (SDSU) who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 28th Round this week.

Twelve SteepleCats alumni that fine-tuned their skills at Joe Wolfe Field were selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft this week.  The earliest selection was Cody Weiss, a right-handed pitcher who pitched for the 'Cats in 2009, who was selected in the 14th round by the Seattle Mariners.  Two-time SteepleCat first baseman, Paul Hoilman (ETSU) and NECBL All-Star, was selected in the 19th round by the Chicago Cubs.  Of the twelve players selected, three of them may be reunited this summer as members of a Seattle Mariner’s minor league organization as Weiss, Reeder, and Villasuso were all selected by the Mariners.  These twelve alumni now join over 60 fellow alumni as professional players.  Visit our website for a complete list.  The 2011 draftees are:

Cody Weiss (LaSalle), RHP, Seattle Mariners, 14th Round
Paul Hoilman (ETSU), 1B, Chicago Cubs, 19th Round
Tim Shibuya (UCSD), RHP, Minnesota Twins, 23rd Round
Guido Knudson (UCSD), RHP, Detroit Tigers, 28th Round
Sean Albury (Nova Southeastern), RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, 31st Round
John Schulz (Pittsburgh), OF, Florida Marlins, 34th Round
Bo Reeder (ETSU), RHP, Seattle Mariners, 36th Round
Devin Shines (Oklahoma State), OF, Los Angeles Dodgers, 38th Round
Corey Vogt (Keene State), RHP, Boston Red Sox, 39th Round
David Villasuso (Miami), C, Seattle Mariners, 42nd Round
Shane Davis (Canisius), LHP, Toronto Blue Jays, 42nd Round
Robert Nixon (Adelphi), RHP, Cleveland Indians, 46th Round

The SteepleCats organization would like to wish each of these alumni the best of luck for a long, healthy, and successful professional baseball career as they begin to fulfill childhood dreams.  Hopefully they'll receive a similar phone call as that of 2005 alumni, Evan Scribner, did when he was called up to the majors with the San Diego Padres this May.