A day after Scott Bittle and Kirk Nieuwenhuis became the first Athletes in Action alumns drafted in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, 13 more players with AIA ties heard their names called by Major League teams. In all, 15 former or current AIA players were selected in the 2008 MLB Draft.Robbie Weinart was the first former AIA player to go off the board on Friday as he was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round. Weinart played two seasons with the AIA Alaska Fire in 2005 and 2006 and played collegiately at Oklahoma State University. He was 6-0, 3.89 ERA in 25 appearances on the mound for the Cowboys in 2008 and helped the Big 12 team advance to NCAA Regional play. Weinart finished the spring with 70 strikeouts in 44 innings.
Tyson Bagley, a three-year AIA Texas veteran, was selected in the 11th round by the San Diego Padres. The Bakersfield, Calf., native pitched for AIA’s Mineral Wells Steam in the Texas Collegiate League in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and found great success as the closer for Dallas Baptist this spring. Bagley saved 11 games for the Patriots as they went 37-19 and advanced to NCAA Regional play. He went 4-2, 2.56 with 56 strikeouts in 38.2 innings.
Bagley was joined by former Steam teammate and former AIA Alaska player Blake Stouffer. The San Antonio, Texas, native was taken in the 13th round by the Washington Nationals after hitting .256 with 37 RBI and helping Texas A&M advance to NCAA Super Regional play. Stouffer was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 draft by the Cincinnati Reds after challenging for the numerous player of the year awards but decided to return to A&M for his senior season.
Brandon Moore, a right-handed pitcher for the 2007 AIA Texas team and Indiana Wesleyan, was picked up by the New York Mets in the 14th round. Moore, from Crawfordsville, Ind., was 10-3, 1.73 ERA and 10 complete games for IWU as he anchored the rotation this season. Moore started 14 games for IWU and struck out 131 while walking just 24 in 93.2 innings.
Thad Weber went to the Detroit Tigers in the 16th round. Weber pitched for AIA New York in 2004 while he was at Hutchinson Community College and later contributed at the University of Nebraska. A native of Friend, Neb., Weber was 9-5, 6.15 ERA in 14 starts this season for the Huskers and helped them advance to NCAA Regional play.
AJ Simunic was selected by the Houston Astros one round later in the 17th. The Tennessee infielder, played for AIA’s Central America team in 2005. Simunic batted .297 for the Volunteers and scored 47 runs this spring. Simunic, from Collierville, Tenn., was a menace on the base paths, swiping 20 bases on 23 attempts.
The St. Louis Cardinals snagged Xavier Scruggs, a 2006 AIA Alaska alumn, in the 19th round. The UNLV Rebel first baseman hit xxx while earning Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American Honors. Scruggs was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year as he won the MWC Triple Crown by leading the league in batting average (.379), home runs (20) and RBI (65).
Jericho Jones, who has committed to play for the AIA Alaska team in 2008, was taken in the 20th round by the Chicago Cubs. Jones, a Corinth, Texas, native, hit .364 for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and was second on the team with 13 home runs and 46 RBI. Jones also started 12 games for the Bulldogs and went 5-5 with a 5.80 ERA.
Aaron Murphree, a two-time member of the AIA Texas team, was tabbed in the 27th round and will join his former teammate Bagley with the San Diego Padres. Murphree, a smooth fielding corner outfielder and first baseman, clubbed 12 homers in the first several weeks of the spring for the Arkansas Razorbacks and finished the year with a .305 batting average, 14 homers and 40 RBI. Murphree’s .687 slugging percentage led the team and the Brock, Texas, native helped the Razorbacks advanced to the NCAA Regionals.
Three former AIA players were snagged in the 37th round. Memphis’ Chris Kirkland, who played briefly with the AIA Texas team in 2005, was the first to go when he was taken by the Seattle Mariners. A catcher for much of his career, Kirkland will get a chance to pitch in the minors. Kirkland Rivers, a member of the 2006 Texas team was drafted by the Houston Astros. Rivers was 0-1, 9.14 in 12 appearances as a lefty pitcher for Texas A&M this spring. Justin Harper, a 2007 AIA Alaska Alumn, was snagged by the Yankees. The Yavapai College pitcher was 2-1 with three saves and a 6.11 ERA. He also had 42 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
The Texas Rangers drafted 2007 AIA Alaska alumn Jamie McGraw in the 40th round. The Corban College outfielder led the Warriors with 28 runs scored, two triples, 36 walks and 16 stolen bases.
Joel Staples was the last AIA player selected in the draft, going in the 44th round to the Florida Marlins. Staples played for the 2007 AIA Alaska squad that won the Alaska League Championship. The St. Marys College third baseman hit .292 with a pair of home runs and 27 RBI.
Several other AIA Alumns are expected to sign free agent contracts. Current AIA Alumns who have recently played in the Major Leagues include Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeremy Accardo, Chicago White Sox pitcher Lance Broadway, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Mel Stocker, former Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Andy Green and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Ben Zobrist.
2008 AIA Alumns in the Draft
AIA Alaska
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Azusa Pacific, 3rd Round by the Mets
Robbie Weinhart, , 10th Round by the Tigers
Blake Stouffer, Texas A&M, 13th Round by the Nationals
Xavier Scruggs, 19th Round by the Cardinals
Jericho Jones, 20th Round by the Cubs
Justin Harper, 37th Round by the Yankees
Jamie McGraw, 40th Round by the Rangers
Joel Staples, 44th Round by the Marlins
AIA Texas
Scott Bittle, Ole Miss, 2nd Round by the Yankees
Tyson Bagley, Dallas Baptist, 11th Round by the Padres
Blake Stouffer, Texas A&M, 13th Round by the Nationals
Brandon Moore, Indiana Wesleyan, 14th Round by the Mets
Aaron Murphree, Arkansas, 27th Round by the Padres
Chris Kirkland, Memphis, 37th Round by the Mariners
Kirkland Rivers, Texas A&M, 37th Round by the Astros
AIA New York
Thad Weber, Nebraska, 16th Round by the Tigers
AIA Central America
AJ Simunic, 17th Round by the Astros
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