Four Deacons Selected on Day 3 of MLB Draft
6/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 7, 2014
By Nick Sebesta, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest baseball players John McLeod, Jack Fischer, Connor Kaden and Conor Keniry were all drafted on Saturday in Day 3 of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. Three incoming freshmen were also drafted on Saturday.
McLeod was drafted in the 21st round with the 631st pick overall to the Baltimore Orioles while Jack Fischer was taken in the 26th round by the Detroit Tigers with the 790th overall selection. Kaden was taken by the San Francisco Giants with the 808th pick in the 27th round while Keniry was selected in the same round by the Washington Nationals with the 814th pick.
Incoming freshman Kameron Uter was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 12th round with the 369th pick. Signee Gavin Sheets was drafted in the 37th round with the 1,123rd pick by the Atlanta Braves along with incoming freshman Stuart Fairchild who was taken in the 38th round by the Nationals with the 1,144th pick.
A native of Renton, Wash., McLeod returned to the Demon Deacon pitching staff in 2014 after missing last season due to an injury. He had an immediate impact as he compiled a 5-2 record with a 2.33 ERA over 10 starts this season.
McLeod pitched 58.0 total innings while giving up just 15 earned runs and striking out 48. In his season debut against Georgetown, McLeod struck out a career-high 10 batters while not giving up any runs over six innings. He earned wins in the ACC against Boston College, Notre Dame and Maryland before suffering a season-ending hand injury against Florida State on April 19. In his career at Wake Forest, McLeod relinquished just one home run in 107.0 total innings in 59 appearances.
Fischer, a native of Hinsdale, Ill., was the standout Friday night starter this season for Wake Forest. He logged 101.1 total innings for the Demon Deacons this season which ranked among the leaders in the ACC. Fischer finished the season with a 3.82 ERA and a 4-7 record and struck out 59 which led the team. In his career, Fischer recorded 131 strikeouts in 63 appearances and started two games in the ACC Tournament including this season. This season, Fischer also had two complete games and struck out a career-high nine batters in the win over No. 1 Virginia.
Kaden finished the season with a 3.52 ERA in 17 appearances this season including 12 starts while compiling a 2-3 record while recording one save. After making the transition from the bullpen to a starting role, Kaden settled as the Sunday starter and struck out 52 which were second most on the team. Opponents hit just .232 against Kaden on the season. He struck out a career-high eight against Davidson on Feb. 18 and had his finest outing of the season at Boston College where he limited the Eagles to three hits over seven innings.
Keniry made the switch from second base to shortstop this season and was one of the standout defensive players for Wake Forest. A native of Milford, Conn., Keniry started 54 games while playing in all 56 contests. He finished with a batting average of .256 for the season while recording 53 hits, 25 runs and 21 RBIs. During the season, Keniry recorded 12 doubles to lead the team and hit three home runs while walking 28 times. His solo homer in the ninth inning of the first game against No. 1 Virginia helped stage an epic comeback as the Deacs downed the Cavaliers in the 10th inning. In his career, Keniry had 170 hits and 76 RBIs while helping turn 107 double plays.
This marks the 35th straight year that Wake Forest has had either a current player or an incoming signee selected in the MLB Draft.
