NEW YORK – Redshirt sophomore Robert Sabo and senior Jason Patton were both selected in day three of the 2009 MLB first-year player draft. This brings Kent State’s total number of selections to seven, tying the 1994 class for the most draftees ever.
Kent State has now had someone taken in each of the last 11 and 23 of the last 24 drafts.
Sabo was taken in the 38th round (1145th overall) by Cleveland. Teammate Kyle Smith was taken in day two of the draft by the Indians. Patton went in the 47th round (1429 overall selection) by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Sabo, who missed the entire 2008 season, was 6-1 with a 5.50 ERA in 42 appearances for the Golden Flashes. In his last appearance of the ’09 season, Sabo pitched out of a jam by getting a critical double play in the NCAA tournament game against Cal Poly. With one out and the bases loaded with the Mustangs threatening, Sabo got the Cal Poly player to ground into an unconventional 3-6-1 twin killing.
Patton joins former Kent State pitcher and current Rays’ starter Andy Sonnanstine in the Tampa Bay organization. In his time with KSU, Patton was known for his 2007 and ’09 heroics in the Mid-American Conference tournaments. In 2007, he was named MVP after going 10-for-16 with four RBI and two runs scored. In ’09, he was named to the all-tournament team with six hits (two home runs) in 19 at-bats with eight RBI and five runs scored. With Miami leading 4-0 in the fifth of the first game of the ’09 tournament, Patton slammed a solo shot to lead off the inning and helped KSU rally for the 6-4 win.
In the ’09 NCAA tournament, Patton was named to the All-Tempe Region team by going 8-for-14 with seven RBI and four runs scored in three games.
Before the 2009 season, Patton had hit only seven home runs in his KSU career. He hit 15 his senior year alone.
Besides the current KSU players, two Golden Flash signees were also drafted. Jason Bagoly, a catcher from Austintown-Fitch high school, was drafted 1201 overall (40th round) by the Colorado Rockies. Addison Dunn, a right-handed pitcher from Warren Area High School in Pennsylvania, was selected 1370th overall (45th round) by the Chicago Cubs.
Courtesy: Bill Mitchell
