THUNDER BAY -- Five former Thunder Bay Border Cats players heard their names called during this week's Major League Baseball draft.
First off the board was versatile infielder/outfielder Michael Foster, who played in Thunder Bay in 2013. He was taken in the 16th round, 473rd overall, by the Chicago Cubs. The Pickering, Ont. native recently finished his university career at Northeastern University, where he led the Huskies with a .343 batting average, earning team MVP honours.
Oufielder Alex Bautista may also have a Windy City future.
Bautista was drafted on Wednesday by the Chicago Cubs in 22nd round, 653rd overall on Day 3 of the Major League Baseball Draft.
The Queens, N.Y. native spent parts of two seasons with the Cats in 2013 and 2014, hitting just .152 in his rookie campaign before slumping to .107 last summer in just nine appearances.
More recently the 21-year-old Bautista hit .265 with 10 doubles and 10 homeruns for Kentucky’s Lindsey Wilson College, an NAIA school. He drove in 37 runs in 53 games and also stole six bases.
Luke Willis, an outfielder who played for the Cats in 2012, was snagged 909th overall by the Kansas City Royals after fnishing up his two-year stint at George Mason University, where he hit .327 after arriving prior to 2014 from Coastal Carolina. HIs 50 career stolen bases rank fifth in school history.
Outfielder Jordan Serena had to wait a little longer for his phone call, but eventually it did come.
Serena, who hit .286 with three homers and 30 RBI last season, was selected in the 35th round, 1,065th overall, by the Los Angeles Angels.
Last, but not least, was Canadian shortstop Joey Hawkins, taken in the 40th round, 1,211th overall, by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Whitby, Ont. native hit .262 in 61 outings with the Bears.
