Kevin McAvoy, RHP, Bryant University
Selected: 4th Round (#134 overall)
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6'3"/210
Hometown: Syracuse NY (Westhill HS)
Brian MacPherson, ProJo
Selected: 4th Round (#134 overall)
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6'3"/210
Hometown: Syracuse NY (Westhill HS)
Brian MacPherson, ProJo
Bryant ace Kevin McAvoy had a sense he’d be getting a phone call on Friday, sometime within the first 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft.
The call came just a little bit earlier than expected.
“I had expectations to go today,” he said Friday evening, “but not that high.”
The Red Sox snagged McAvoy in the fourth round with the 134th overall pick, making him the earliest draft pick in Bryant baseball history. A native of upstate New York, McAvoy grew up a fan of the New York Yankees but has made several trips to Fenway Park and said with a chuckle after his selection that the Red Sox “started to grow on me.”
“Obviously, now they’re my favorite team,” he said.
McAvoy said he saw and spoke to Red Sox area scout Ray Fagnant about a half-dozen times during the season. From the sounds of things, negotiations between McAvoy and the Red Sox don’t figure to be difficult. The slot value for the No. 134 overall pick is $377,600, but Boston might try to save money with McAvoy to spread around to more difficult signs.
“I don’t have to think about it at all,” he said. “I’m going to sign.”
McAvoy posted a 2.62 ERA in his junior season, including 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the Bulldogs’ NCAA tournament opener against Houston a week ago. He struck out 94 hitters in 99 2/3 innings as a junior, compiling a 2.62 ERA and throwing four complete games. The development of his slider was significant in his success.
“By the end of the year, it was really an out pitch,” he said.