Four Flashes Selected in MLB Draft
6/11/2018 3:43:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, OHIO – Kent State had four players drafted in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft recently as Joey Murray, Austin Havekost, Pavin Parks and Eli Kraus heard their names called by professional baseball organizations, just days after wrapping up competition at the NCAA Division I Regionals.
Murray – the two-time Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year – was selected in the eighth round by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the 236th overall pick. In 2018 Murray set both the Kent State and MAC single-season strikeout records with 141.
Havekost had a solid 2018 season, overcoming a mid-season injury. He was chosen in the 17th round by Toronto, as overall pick number 506. Havekost boasted a season ERA of 3.04 with one save and 31 strikeouts.
First year Golden Flash Pavin Parks was chosen 711th overall – in the 24th round to San Diego. He was among the national leaders in walks this season, taking 54 free passes. He hit .285 for the blue and gold, driving in 52. After discussions with both the Padres organization and the Golden Flashes, Parks has elected to return to KSU for his senior year.
Kraus – one of KSU's all-time winningest pitchers – also went in the 24th round. A selection of the St. Louis Cardinals, Kraus was the 723rd overall pick. He leaves Kent State tied for second on the all-time list with 26 career wins, recently being named the MAC Tournament MVP.
Kent State recently concluded its 2018 campaign at 40-18 – a fifth 40-win season in the last decade. KSU swept both the regular and post-season league championships and ended the league's 11-game NCAA Tournament losing streak with a win in the regionals. The program has won at least 30 games in each of the past 20 years.
