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Hokieball Draft Recap

The 2013 MLB Draft was a memorable one for the Virginia Tech baseball program. The Hokies saw six players drafted, the second-most in the program's history behind the nine that were drafted in 2010.

By chicagomaroon
https://twitter.com/PatrickMason39/status/343695050577960961

But there were some curious omissions among draft-eligible Hokies as head coach Pete Hughes pointed out:

He was of course talking about Devin Burke, Clark Labitan and Andrew Rash respectively in this tweet. Labitan has indicated his desire to continue his career:

While Rash has decided to put an end to his pursuit of a baseball career:

Below is a chronological recap of the players drafted and the latest information we have on all of them:

Chad Pinder

Pinder was the Hokies' first draftee this year and the sixth-highest pick in the history of Virginia Tech baseball. He was picked 71st overall in the Competitive Balance B Round (directly after the second round) by the Oakland Athletics.

Pinder had a tremendous year for the Hokies, particularly in the final weeks of the season and come tournament time. He batted .321 with 8 HR's and 50 RBI in 60 games for the Hokies. For his career, Pinder was a .322 hitter with 18 HR's and 101 RBI in 556 career AB's.

According to Hokiesports, his accomplishments in 2013 were as follows:

  • 2013 NCAA Blacksburg Regional All-Tournament Team (SS)
  • 2013 ACC All-Tournament Team (SS)
  • 2013 All-ACC First Team (3B)
  • 2013 ACC Player of the Week (Feb. 18)

According to Hokie assistant Patrick Mason's tweet:

Pinder played his first game with the Lake Monsters last night, and had a rough go of it, striking out 3 times in his debut without recording a hit.

Tyler Horan

Tyler Horan was the second Hokie drafted, going in the 8th round to the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants:

Horan had a breakout year in 2013, hitting .342 in 62 starts for the Hokies and hitting 11 HR's with 50 RBI. For his career, Horan was a .325 hitter in 493 AB's with 29 HR's and 103 RBI.

According to Hokiesports, his 2013 achievements included:

  • 2013 Louisville Slugger All-American, Second Team (OF)
  • 2013 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Atlantic Region, Second Team (OF)
  • 2013 NCAA Blacksburg Regional All-Tournament Team (OF)
  • 2013 All-ACC First Team (OF)
  • 2013 Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week (May 13)
Horan was signed on June 13th, and apparently garnered $150,900:

According to this post by the Cape Cod Times, Horan has not been assigned yet, and will not be for several weeks as he works out in the Giants' spring training facilities in Scottsdale, Arizona (this was written a week ago, but still that's strange).

Jake Joyce

Joyce was drafted fairly early for a reliever, in the 9th round of the MLB Draft by the Nationals:

Joyce had a very good 2013, though peripherally, his 2012 was better. He logged a tremendous 62.2 innings and made 30 appearances, all in relief, pitching to a 4.16 ERA and a 7-1 record. For his career, Joyce pitched to a 4.66 ERA and a 13-5 record in 97 games and 150.2 innings.

He was signed by the Nationals according to Baseball America for the sum of $139,700, which was his slot allotment. A full scouting report on him can be found in this post by a Nationals' (unaffiliated) draft blog, including his crazy good high school statistics as well as a pretty funny dig at Bryan Stinespring. As Hokie assistant Patrick Mason announced, Joyce has been assigned to the Auburn Doubledays:

Joyce pitched last night and struggled, pitching 1.1 innings and giving up 4 hits and 2 runs (both earned) with no strikeouts, giving him a 13.5 ERA.

Eddie Campbell

Campbell was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 15th round of the 2013 MLB Draft:

Campbell was previously drafted out of high school in the 44th round by the Cincinnati Reds. Campbell had an up and down season with the Hokies in 2013, but ended on a tear. He had his best year in 2013 peripherally if not aesthetically. His K/BB ratio and WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) were career-bests and his .240 batting average against was a new career-best as well. He also pitched a career-high 46.2 innings while potentially turning himself into a starter in the home-stretch for the Hokies. But his 5.40 ERA and 2-5 record indicated that he still had some improvements to make. For his career, Campbell finished with a 5.63 ERA and a 7-6 record in 44 games (14 starts) for the Hokies.

In an interview with Mike Barber of the Richmond Times Dispatch before the draft, Pete Hughes said of Campbell:

Hughes said he wouldn't be surprised if Campbell is drafted, but believes his player would benefit from pitching another season with the Hokies.

"I think Eddie needs to come back to school," Hughes said. "He's had a good two weeks. If he came back here and pitched on weekends he could absolutely pitch his way to a prospect slot, top five rounds."

But according to the Mariners' website yesterday, they have reached an agreement with and signed Campbell. Campbell has been assigned to the Pulaski Mariners, the Rookie Appalachian League affiliate for the Mariners, though Baseball Reference has yet to create a profile for him. The Mariners' season begins tonight.

Joe Mantiply

Mantiply was drafted in the 27th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers:

Mantiply, who was previously drafted, both in 2012 as a junior and 2009 out of high school, became the first Hokie baseball player ever to be drafted three times. It turned out to be a smart decision to attend and return to Virginia Tech, as he improved his draft position both times, going from a 48th round pick in 2009 to a 28th rounder in 2012 and a 27th rounder this year.

Mantiply had another tremendous year, his best as a Hokie, going 6-1 in 15 games (13 starts) with a 2.85 ERA in 75.2 innings. For his career, Mantiply went 20-16 for the Hokies 3.99 ERA in 64 games (47 starts) in 299.2 innings.

Mantiply signed with the Tigers on June 12th:
So far, Mantiply has pitched in 1 game (June 17), recording 2 strikeouts in his only inning of action. He has fared the best of any of the Hokie draftees who have seen action so far.

Colin O'Keefe

Despite an injury-shortened 2013 in which he pitched poorly before being shut down, O'Keefe was selected in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels:
O'Keefe appeared in 5 games in 2013, pitching to an 0-2 record and a 15.88 ERA in 5.2 innings. He was much better in 2012, however, pitching to a 2-0 record over 5 starts and a 3.57 ERA in 17.2 innings, striking out 24 and allowing only a .190 batting average against to his opponents. O'Keefe also pitched sparingly in 2011 as a freshman, appearing in 3 games, making 2 starts and pitching to a 12.46 ERA in 4.1 innings with 4 strikeouts.

O'Keefe reached an agreement with the Angels on June 14th according to his hometown publication, The Day, and ESPN's Los Angeles Angels team transactions. Details of the signing were not disclosed, or are not yet readily available. According to The Day report on O'Keefe from the 14th:
"He will likely report to the Angels' Rookie League team in Orem, Utah or their other Rookie League team in the Arizona League next week."
However, Baseball Reference has yet to register a profile for him and neither minor league affiliate nor the Angels have released a press release correlating to his assignment to a team. UPDATE: PER THIS TWEET BY TECH ASSISTANT PATRICK MASON, O'KEEFE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED:
We would like to note that we were incorrect in our prediction that O'Keefe would not be drafted.

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