This week a lot of baseball prospects finally got their chance to start their dream in playing in Major League Baseball because the MLB draft was held this week. There was a local connection on Wednesday in the 19th round of the draft when University of Delaware’s Ron Marinaccio, a right handed pitcher was selected by the New York Yankees.
Marinaccio is the 10th Blue Hen to become a Yankee and the 44th Blue Hen to be drafted to a major league team. The former Blue Hen pitcher joins another Hen at the Yankees currently and that is Chad Martin who was selected by the team in the 30th round of the 2015 draft. The Tom’s Rivers, NJ native is the highest drafted Blue Hen since Jimmy Yezzo who was selected in the 7th round by the Washington Nationals in 2013. Other recent draftees of Blue Hens are Chad Kuhl drafted in the 9th round in 2013 ( Pittsburgh Pirates), Matt Soren drafted in the 19th round in 2013 ( Philadelphia Philles) and Nick Ferdinand drafted in the 35th round in 2013 ( Phillies).
Here is what the newest member of the Yankees had to say about being drafted:
“Today is a dream come true,” said Marinaccio . “Since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to play professional baseball, and today I am one step closer to achieving that dream. I want to thank all of my teammates, (pitching) coach Troy (O’Neal), coach (Andrew) Amaro, coach (Dan) Hammer and (head) coach (Jim) Sherman. I will always consider myself a Blue Hen and will continue to follow the program.”
Blue Hens Coach Jim Sherman said this about Marinaccio being drafted.
“We are all really happy for Ronnie,” said Sherman. “Ron has worked his tail off to get this opportunity, and today is the start of the return on that hard work. He showed down the stretch of the season that he was a true pro prospect, both at CAA Tournament and against No. 5 Texas Tech in a tough environment. Watching Ron and coaching him the last four years, I see a great resemblance to Chad Kuhl. The whole Blue Hens baseball family wishes Ronnie nothing but the best.”
Marinaccio who was selected by the Yankees with the 572nd overall pick was a big factor in the Blue Hens run this season, that eventually led the Hens winning the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title.
As a redshirt junior this season, Marinaccio was 4-3 in 22 appearances ( 8 starts), had a 2.09 ERA, 3 saves, held batters to a .195 average, 68 strikeouts and 22 walks. Marinaccio’s 2.09 ERA was the best among Hens pitchers and it was 28th best nationally among all NCAA Division I pitchers.
The New Jersey native has collected numerous honors with the Blue Hens this season including, a 2017 CAA second team selection, American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-East second team selection and named to the CAA All-Tournament team.
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