After an explosive opening record of 9-1, the Brazos Valley Bombers continue to attract attention, this time on a national scale, as four Bombers were chosen in the MLB draft last week.
Ryan Aper, who was currently signed with Brazos Valley for the 2013 season, was the first Bomber to go during the sixth pick of the sixth round to the Miami Marlins. Aper is a sophomore centerfielder out of Lincoln Land Community College in Lincoln, IL. He currently leads the NJCAA Division II in runs, hits, home runs, total bases, and slugging percentage with .904. Aper was scheduled to report to the Brazos Valley within the next few weeks, but will now be headed to Florida for his major league assignment.
Kyle Martin, a Texas Aggie and former 2012 Bomber, was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the ninth round with the 263 overall pick. Martin currently holds the number three spot of all-time appearances for Texas A&M and achieved All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2012. Martin’s journey to Boston will begin in Lowell Massachusetts with the Lowell Spinners, a Class A short season affiliate of the Red Sox.
Fellow Texas A&M pitcher and former Brazos Valley Bomber Rafael Pineda was also scooped up in the draft by the Seattle Mariners. Pineda was chosen in the thirtieth round with pick 897 overall. This season as a junior for the Aggies Pineda saw 69.2 innings with 3.23 ERA. Pineda will report to Pulaski, Virginia to play for the Pulaski Mariners, a rookie affiliate of Seattle.
Also selected in the thirtieth round was Ryan Ullmann, a 2012 Bombers pitcher from Concordia University Texas. Ullmann, a senior and a native of Bryan, was taken with the 916 overall pick by the Washington Nationals. Ullmann was named the ASC West Division Pitcher of the Year this past spring by throwing four shutouts out of seven complete games.
Tonight the Bombers will travel to Kilgore to take on the East Texas PumpJacks at 7:05pm Action returns to American Momentum Bank Ballpark on Thursday, July 13 at 7:05pm when the Bombers face the Woodlands Strykers. For all your hospitality and ticket information needs call (979) 779 – PLAY or go to www.bvbombers.com. To follow all the news and developments as the Bombers prepare for the 2013 season, visit the website, follow or like us on facebook.com/bvbombers, and follow us on twitter: @BV_Bombers and instagram: bvbombersbaseball.