From Harford Community College:
DISABATINO DRAFTED BY SAN DIEGO PADRES
Harford sophomore shortstop/pitcher Dominic DiSabatino was selected in the 20th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft Saturday afternoon by the San Diego Padres. The native of Middletown, Delaware, becomes the seventh Fighting Owl drafted in school history and the first of two chosen from this year’s record-setting roster.
DiSabatino earned First-Team All-Region and All-MD JUCO while leading Harford to a school-record 54-11 mark en route to the program’s first trip to the JUCO World Series. The shortstop led the team with a .411 batting average, 88 hits, 88 runs, 26 doubles, 48 walks and a .519 on-base percentage while also adding 14 home runs and 68 RBIs. DiSabatino set the school record for runs in a season, doubles in a season and runs in a career (139) while ranking in the top 10 of nine offensive categories. He is second all-time with 22 home runs and 106 RBIs while becoming just the second player in school history with 100 runs and 100 RBIs.
DiSabatino also saw action on the mound throughout his career, and the Padres drafted him as a right-handed pitcher. The reliever didn’t allow a run in his entire career, earning four saves in eight appearances. This season he struck out five batters in 4.2 innings, picking up three saves.
DiSabatino, who is committed to the University of Pittsburgh, was joined by teammate Joe Burton as the first two players selected in the MLB Draft directly from Harford under the guidance of head coach Tom Eller and the first Fighting Owls picked since 1985. DiSabatino was the 594th overall selection and Burton was picked in the 24th round (728th overall) by the New York Yankees. Eller coached Dom Vattuone, who graduated from Harford in 2011 and was selected in the 2013 MLB Draft in the 32nd round after a two-year career at UNC Greensboro.
BURTON DRAFTED BY NEW YORK YANKEES
Harford freshman outfielder Joe Burton was selected in the 24th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft Saturday afternoon by the New York Yankees. The native of Newark, Delaware, becomes the eighth Fighting Owl drafted in school history and one of two chosen from this year’s record-setting roster.
Burton earned First-Team All-Region and All-MD JUCO while leading Harford to a school-record 54-11 mark en route to the program’s first trip to the JUCO World Series. The designated hitter/left fielder was second on the team with a .407 batting average, 16 home runs, a .514 on-base percentage and a .749 slugging percentage. The freshman’s career batting average ranks fourth all-time and his 16 home runs is second in a single season and third all-time.
Burton was joined by teammate Dominic DiSabatino as the first two players selected in the MLB Draft directly from Harford under the guidance of head coach Tom Eller and the first Fighting Owls picked since 1985. DiSabatino was the 594th overall selection in the 20th round by the San Diego Padres and Burton was the 728th overall pick. Eller coached Dom Vattuone, who graduated from Harford in 2011 and was selected in the 2013 MLB Draft in the 32nd round after a two-year career at UNC Greensboro.
Congratulations to both young men!