ROCK HILL, SC –Three more Winthrop Eagles were taken in day two of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft, as senior left fielder Jacob Dempsey, senior short stop Matt Repec and senior catcher Alan Robbins joined teammate Heath Rollins to round out Winthrop’s 2006 draft class.
"We are certainly very pleased that four of our players were taken in this year's professional draft," Eagles head coach Joe Hudak said. "This is the second straight year we have had four players drafted. It is a continuing sign that our program is attracting and developing excellent baseball players."
Dempsey and Robbins were both drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, with Dempsey going in the 21st round (637 overall), and Robbins taken in the 32nd (967 overall). Repec was selected in the 27th round (798 overall) by the Colorado Rockies, who also drafted former Eagle standout Daniel Carte in the second round of last year’s draft. Rollins was taken in the 11th round (319 overall) by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
“I’m extremely excited that I'll be able to continue playing baseball at the professional level,” Dempsey said. “It's especially great knowing that Robbins is going to the same team so we can continue to play together. I can't wait to get started playing for the Phillies.”
A senior from Chesapeake, VA, Dempsey turned in a season to remember, batting a team-leading .403 (100-248) with 17 home runs and 78 RBI. Setting new single-season school records for RBI and hits, Dempsey also matched conference doubles and hits records. With 28 doubles this season, he became the Eagles overall doubles leader with 78 and finished his four-year career at Winthrop atop most career lists, ranking fourth in games played (231), fifth in at-bats (817), third in runs (208), fourth in hits (291), ninth in singles (162), fifth in triples (9), second in home runs (42), second in RBI (209) and second in total bases (513). With a career .356 (291-817) average, he is the first Eagle hitter to break into the top ten in almost twenty years. A two-time Big South player of the week selection, he was named First-Team All-Conference outfielder for the third time, as well as Third-Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball.
"Jacob leaves Winthrop as one of the greatest hitters in the program's history," Hudak said. "Our record book is dotted with his name. He had a remarkable senior season, and a great career. He will be missed."
Like Dempsey, Repec completed a four-year career with his name near the top of every career list, ranking first in games played (247), first in at-bats (930), second in hits (293), second in singles (209), third in doubles (59), tenth in home runs (24), third in RBI (199) and fifth in total bases (426). Starting every game over the past four years at short stop for the Eagles, the senior from Youngstown, OH, was named All-Conference at the position for the past three seasons. A career .315 (293-930) hitter, he turned in his best offensive season, batting .341 (87-255) with 21 doubles, eight home runs and 67 RBI.
"There are few players that can say they started every game in their four-year college career," Hudak said. "Matt has been a ironman, starting all 247 games the past four years. He has not only had a great career offensively, but has anchored our defense from the shortstop position. He also has his name at or near the top of numerous Winthrop records. We will miss his abilty as well as his quiet leadership."
A senior from Bridgeport, WV, Robbins has started every game of the past two seasons behind the plate for the Eagles. This season, he batted .242 (50-270) with five home runs and 35 RBI. A senior team captain, Robbins turned in an impressive performance at the NCAA Regionals in Chapel Hill earlier this month, batting .455 (5-11) with a team-leading five RBI and four runs scored, as the only Eagle to homer in the series. In 2005, Robbins was named to the All-Conference team, after batting .289 (66-228) with three home runs and 30 RBI.
"Alan has had an outstanding career here at Winthrop," Hudak said. "He has been the quarterback of our defense the past two years, starting every single game. He is one of the best catch and throw guys I have ever coached. We are particularly excited that he and Jacob will be starting their pro careers together with the Phillies."
Rollins was drafted in the 11th round on day one of the draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Big South’s Most Valuable Player finished the season with a 13-4 mark after recording both of the Eagles wins at the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional this past weekend, a 3.51 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 123.0 innings. A two way player batting .328 (76-232) with four home runs and 31 RBI, Rollins received his fair share of attention this season, taking home First-Team All-conference honors as both a pitcher and first baseman –just the second player in league history to do so, and being selected as one of 30 semi-finalists for the College Baseball Foundation’s prestigious Wallace Award.
"It was exciting to see Heath go in the 11th round," Hudak said. "I think this validates his decision to transfer to Winthrop from South Carolina. He has been a major factor in the 90 wins we have over the last two seasons. We would love to have Heath back for his senior year. However, if he and his family think the time is right for him to enter pro ball, we support him 100%."
Unlike Dempsey, Repec and Robbins, Rollins will have to make a decision between signing with the Devil Rays and returning for his senior season.
"We are so happy that these four young men have had their dream come true," Hudak said. "It is the result of hours and hours of hard work and dedication. We certainly wish the three seniors the best as they embark on this new stage of their baseball careers. They have won more games at Winthrop (162) than any senior class in school history. We will wish the same for Heath if he decides to forego his senior season. All four of these players are fine young men. It has been my privilege to coach them here at Winthrop."
