McKENDREE'S CALE JOHNSON, NOLAN MARTZ SELECTED IN 2009 MLB DRAFT
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| Cale Johnson (left) and Nolan Martz have become the first McKendree players drafted in the MLB draft since 2006 |
(LEBANON, Ill., June 11)—McKendree University had two of its players selected on the final day of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday.
Senior pitcher Cale Johnson (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) was a 41st-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, while junior pitcher Nolan Martz (East Alton, Ill./Roxana) was taken in the 47th round by the Baltimore Orioles. Martz and Johnson combined for 13 victories in the Bearcats’ starting rotation as McKendree earned their eighth American Midwest Conference Tournament championship in 10 years and a trip to the NAIA World Series Opening Round last month.
“This is great for our program,” said McKendree head baseball coach Jim Boehne. “I remember the excitement when Brian (Dinkelman) was drafted in 2006 and the buzz it created. This is a great opportunity for both of them. They both have a high ceiling in terms of potential. This is an exciting time.”
Johnson was a four-year member of the Bearcats’ rotation. He collected 28 career victories at McKendree, which is tied for second all-time in program history. As a senior in 2009, Johnson posted a record of 6-3 and led the AMC with an earned-run average of 2.63. In 14 starts, Johnson registered nine complete games, including one shutout. He led McKendree with 87 strikeouts in 89 innings of work.
In each of the last two years, Johnson was honored as the AMC Pitcher of the Year. He was a three-time All-Conference selection for the Bearcats.
“This is unbelievable,” said Johnson. “This is something I’ve worked for my whole life. This is a great opportunity and I look forward to taking that first step in my professional career.”
Martz joined the McKendree program last fall and quickly joined Johnson at the top of the Bearcats’ rotation. Martz went 7-4 with a 5.84 ERA in 13 starts this season. He had six complete games, including a two-hit shutout at William Woods University on April 25 that helped the Bearcats lock up the 2009 AMC regular-season championship. Martz struck out 80 batters in 69 1/3 innings of work. Martz was a first-team All-Conference choice for the Bearcats.
“It’s cool, it’s exciting,” said Martz. “I had just found out about Cale when I saw my name come up. This is great for McKendree.”
Johnson and Martz become McKendree’s first baseball draftees since Brian Dinkelman was taken in the eighth round by the Minnesota Twins in 2006. Dinkelman is currently a starter at second base and in the outfield for the Class AA New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League.
The McKendree University baseball team posted a season record of 37-21-2 in 2009. The Bearcats won the AMC regular-season and tournament championships, and advanced to the opening-round play in the NAIA World Series.
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