Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
BASE | Three Gaels Selected in the 2019 MLB Draft
6/5/2019 3:55:00 PM | Baseball
NEW YORK – Three Gaels have joined the ranks of Saint Mary's professional baseball players as Ken Waldichuk, Kevin Milam, and Joe Vranesh were each selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft.
Ken Waldichuk LHP, New York Yankees (4th Round – 165th overall)
Waldichuk recorded a career-2.70 earned run average in his three years at Saint Mary's, including the third-best ERA in the modern SMC era in 2018* (2.05). His name is littered across the record books in multiple other categories including career strikeouts (275 – fourth-most*), and single season punchouts (118 in 2018 – also fourth-best*). The lefty tossed a total of 230.0 innings with a career-best, 92.2 IP in 2019 and opponents hit just .215 against him over three seasons. Waldichuk was the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week three times this season, the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week once, and was selected to the All-WCC First Team. He was the Yankees' sixth selection of the draft (their fourth pitcher) and the highest selection of any member of the WCC.
"I am so proud of Ken, said head coach Eric Valenzuela. "He has worked extremely hard to be able to chase his dream of playing Major League Baseball. He's done so much for our program and we wish him nothing but the best."
Kevin Milam DH/RHP, New York Yankees (14th Round – 435th overall)
A legitimate, two-way player, Milam collected a .308 career-batting average at Saint Mary's along with 43 doubles (ninth all-time*) and had a career-best, 17 this season. His 127 runs batted in are tied for the sixth-most in the modern era*, 24 home runs are tied for the seventh-most*, and he amassed a .414 career on-base percentage. As a pitcher, Milam posted a 13-9 record in his three years, finishing with a 3.99 ERA, 11 saves, 180.1 innings pitched and 182 strikeouts. Milam was named both the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year and WCC Freshman of the Year in 2017 and was an All-WCC Honorable Mention this season.
"Kevin is arguably one of the best baseball players ever to wear a Gael uniform," said Valenzuela. "He has hit in the middle of our lineup and pitched in a significant role all three years for us. He has been a part of lots of wins! I am so proud of him."
Joe Vranesh OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (15th Round – 461st overall)
Vranesh enjoyed his biggest season at the plate this year, batting .327 with 15 homeruns (second-most all-time in the modern era*), 56 RBI (third-most all-time*), and a .640 slugging percentage (fourth-highest*). He also compiled 16 doubles, three triples, a .437 on-base percentage, and a 1.077 OPS. Furthermore, his 54 runs scored this season were ranked second in the WCC and were tied for the second-most in a single-season in SMC history*. Altogether, Vranesh finished his career at SMC with a .302 batting average. The junior was named to the All-WCC First Team this year and was named the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on May 6 which coincided with a WCC Player of the Week award.
"Joe has made the most progress of any player I have ever coached," said Valenzuela. " He was a legit football player out of high school and he made himself into one of the best outfielders in the country. The Dodgers got a great one and a player that's tough as nails!"
*Program Records Date back to 1976
Ken Waldichuk LHP, New York Yankees (4th Round – 165th overall)
Waldichuk recorded a career-2.70 earned run average in his three years at Saint Mary's, including the third-best ERA in the modern SMC era in 2018* (2.05). His name is littered across the record books in multiple other categories including career strikeouts (275 – fourth-most*), and single season punchouts (118 in 2018 – also fourth-best*). The lefty tossed a total of 230.0 innings with a career-best, 92.2 IP in 2019 and opponents hit just .215 against him over three seasons. Waldichuk was the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week three times this season, the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week once, and was selected to the All-WCC First Team. He was the Yankees' sixth selection of the draft (their fourth pitcher) and the highest selection of any member of the WCC.
"I am so proud of Ken, said head coach Eric Valenzuela. "He has worked extremely hard to be able to chase his dream of playing Major League Baseball. He's done so much for our program and we wish him nothing but the best."
Kevin Milam DH/RHP, New York Yankees (14th Round – 435th overall)
A legitimate, two-way player, Milam collected a .308 career-batting average at Saint Mary's along with 43 doubles (ninth all-time*) and had a career-best, 17 this season. His 127 runs batted in are tied for the sixth-most in the modern era*, 24 home runs are tied for the seventh-most*, and he amassed a .414 career on-base percentage. As a pitcher, Milam posted a 13-9 record in his three years, finishing with a 3.99 ERA, 11 saves, 180.1 innings pitched and 182 strikeouts. Milam was named both the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year and WCC Freshman of the Year in 2017 and was an All-WCC Honorable Mention this season.
"Kevin is arguably one of the best baseball players ever to wear a Gael uniform," said Valenzuela. "He has hit in the middle of our lineup and pitched in a significant role all three years for us. He has been a part of lots of wins! I am so proud of him."
Joe Vranesh OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (15th Round – 461st overall)
Vranesh enjoyed his biggest season at the plate this year, batting .327 with 15 homeruns (second-most all-time in the modern era*), 56 RBI (third-most all-time*), and a .640 slugging percentage (fourth-highest*). He also compiled 16 doubles, three triples, a .437 on-base percentage, and a 1.077 OPS. Furthermore, his 54 runs scored this season were ranked second in the WCC and were tied for the second-most in a single-season in SMC history*. Altogether, Vranesh finished his career at SMC with a .302 batting average. The junior was named to the All-WCC First Team this year and was named the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on May 6 which coincided with a WCC Player of the Week award.
"Joe has made the most progress of any player I have ever coached," said Valenzuela. " He was a legit football player out of high school and he made himself into one of the best outfielders in the country. The Dodgers got a great one and a player that's tough as nails!"
*Program Records Date back to 1976
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