Jarrett Casey (left) and Dave Middendorf (right) were selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Two Northern Kentucky University pitchers received the ultimate honor on Wednesday when
Jarrett Casey and
Dave Middendorf were both selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
Casey was selected in the 32nd round by the Chicago White Sox, while Middendorf went in the 44th round to the New York Yankees.
Casey, a senior from Indianapolis, Ind., played two seasons at NKU after transferring from Indiana. While in the Norse starting rotation, Casey compiled a 9-9 record with a 4.13 earned run average. He struck out 90 batters while walking just 43 in 100 1/3 innings. He also threw two complete games, including a 9-3 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on April 26 of the 2010 season.
“It's kind of unreal,” Casey said. “Ever since I've been a kid I always wanted to play professional baseball, and now I'll get a chance to do. It's one of the happiest days of my life really.”
Casey was twice named to the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference team, earning second-team honors this season after taking home a third-team award in 2009. He plans to meet with a member of the White Sox scouting staff in the next few days to discuss a contract.
“I looked at the other players they drafted and noticed there were some pitchers ahead of me that I'll have to compete with, but I think I'll be able to hold my own,” he said.
Middendorf, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, has been a hard-throwing starter for the Norse over the past three seasons, amassing a 16-9 record with a 2.97 ERA. The left-hander claims 222 strikeouts to rank third all-time at NKU against just 44 walks over 197 innings. In 2010, Middendorf was 8-2 with a career-high 81 strikeouts.
“I was watching the draft online and to see my name come up is a dream come true,” said Middendorf after learning of his selection. “All the hard work over the years has paid off, but I know this is the first step of another long journey.”
Middendorf was named to the All-GLVC and All-Midwest Region first teams last season. He will join a Yankees system that has selected three NKU pitchers in its history. Paul David Patterson was a 16th round selection of the Yankees in 2007, while Scott Wiggins went to the Bronx Bombers in the seventh round of the 1997 draft.
“I couldn't be happier for these guys to be selected,” added NKU head coach
Todd Asalon, who has seen eight of his players drafted since 2002. “These guys were two of our top weekend starters throughout the last two seasons and have been instrumental to our success.”
NKU pitching coach
Dizzy Peyton is able to put another feather in his cap as well, as he has now sent six hurlers into the ranks of affiliated baseball.
The Norse finished the 2010 season with a 43-17 record and returned to the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season.
Terry Boehmker contributed to this report.
