Abel Guerrero gave pitching a try entering his junior year of high school only because he wasn’t very successful as a hitter.
Those struggles at the plate have led to a shot as a professional.
Guerrero shined his last two years at Monroe and following two years of college at SUNY-Old Westbury and Galveston (Texas) was taken in the 36th round (1,088 overall) by the Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.
“I’m really happy, I don’t even have words to describe how I feel,” he said. “I just want a chance to play so I can prove myself. This is what I’ve been waiting for.”
The 6-foot-1 southpaw, a Bronx native who throws in the low 90s, was playing in a summer league game in the prestigious Northwoods League (Minn.) when he went back in the locker room to check his phone and had dozens of missed calls and text messages from well wishers.
“I was shocked – I froze for a minute,” he said.
Guerrero has the option of returning to school, but said he would likely go pro depending on contractual terms. He’s the 29th player to get drafted coming out of Monroe, but coach Mike Turo said he’s unique.
“It’s a credit to him,” Turo said. “He’s a real student of the game. Everything we tried to teach him he picked up on right away.”
Starting, of course, with that position change.
Former CK standout goes Hollywood: Former Christ the King ace Greg Downing was taken in the 47th round (1,424) by the Los Angeles Dodgers, capping an odyssey that began at Monroe College and continued last year at Franklin Pierce, a Division III school in Pennsylvania
An All-Northeast-10 Conference third team selection, Downing transferred to Franklin Pierce for the 2011 season after spending the previous year at Monroe. He ranked in the top 50 nationally in several categories, such as 13th in strikeouts per nine innings (11.27), tied for 30th in wins (9) and ranked 36th in strikeouts (93). Downing collected attention over his final four appearances of the year, including three starts, when he went 3-1 and allowed just four earned runs over 21-2/3 innings while striking out 24.
“I’m still shocked. I knew I had a shot to get picked, but wasn’t 100-percent sure it was going to happen,” Downing told the school’s website. “I really need to thank Coach [Jayson] King and Franklin Pierce for getting me exposure to MLB scouts, and I need to give credit to my father, who passed away when I was 10 years old, for teaching me to love the game of baseball.”
Disappointing three days for city standouts: The rest of the draft wasn’t very kind to locals as Xaverian catcher Elvin Soto, Tottenville catcher Kevin Krause, George Washington pitcher Yael Regalado and All Hallows pitcher James Norwood all were bypassed. Aside from Regalado, the other three have all signed with Division I programs.
Wesinnger joins St. John’s duo: St. John’s second baseman Matt Wessinger was taken in the 37th round (1,116 overall) by the Kansas City Royals, the third Red Storm player selected, behind shortstop Joe Panik and first baseman Paul Karmas. The junior batted .274 this season with 42 RBIz and tied a career-high with six home runs. He also stole a career-high 14 bases.
Fordham sends two pro: Fordham University’s pitcher/infielder Nick Martinez and pitcher Max Krakowiak were both taken. Martinez went in the 18th round (564) to the Texas Rangers while Krakowiak was taken in the 48th round (1,443) by the Seattle Mariners.
Martinez led Fordham with 46 runs scored, 37 walks, and a .404 on-base percentage. He ranked third on the squad with a .292 batting average to go with nine doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Out of the bullpen, Martinez made 10 appearances, posting a 1-3 record with three saves and a 2.75 ERA, striking out 20 batters in 19.2 innings pitched.
A 2011 tri-captain, Krakowiak ended his career fourth all-time at Fordham in games started (43), ninth in innings pitched (241.0), and 11th in strikeouts (167). He posted a total 14 wins in a Rams’ uniform with six complete games and a 4.89 ERA. This past season, Krakowiak tied for the team lead with three complete games, while being second in wins (5) and strikeouts (61).