At this year’s MLB draft, two former Cavalier pitchers were selected by professional teams.
The Chicago White Sox selected right-handed pitcher Jeff Soptic at pick 110. Soptic was selected in the third round of the draft, which makes him the highest drafted athlete in the school’s history.
Soptic’s greatest asset is his fastball which was clocked at the mid-90s, but coach Kent Shelley said it has flashed across the radar at a buck-even before.
“He’s the first guy in my tenure of 25 years of coaching that hit into the triple digits,” Shelley said. “His arm works very easy.”
He posted as a starter this previous year, playing 56 innings in 10 starts and five relief appearances. He finished his sophomore season with a 3.50 ERA and 58 K, 31 BB and 41 hits allowed (five of those home runs). Soptic improved greatly over his freshman season where he made a jump in posting 42.2 IP as he struck out 48, walked 41 and gave up 51 hits for a 4.10 ERA during his 14 starts.
Vince Spilker was also drafted from the Cavaliers, selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20th round. Spilker finished his sophomore season with a 6-3 record and one save. He tied for the team lead with 12 starts and came up second on the staff with 62 strikeouts while posting a 3.46 ERA. He missed all but the last game of his freshman season while undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow.
Compiled by Dillan Straight.
Vince Spilker was very good !