ROCK HILL, SC.—Winthrop senior catcher Roger Gonzalez and junior pitcher Matt Crohan were drafted in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft and senior pitcher Sam Kmiec has signed a free agent contract.
 
Gonzalez (Miami, FL) was taken in the 22^nd round as the 652^nd pick by the Oakland Athletics while Crohan (Jamesport, NY) was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 32^nd round as the 948^th player taken.  Crohan, who missed most of the 2016 season with a shoulder problem, has the opportunity to return to Winthrop for his senior year. Kmiec (Middletown, DE) signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.
 
"First and foremost, I would like to congratulate Roger, Sam and Matt on having the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of playing professional baseball," said Winthrop head coach Tom Riginos.  "I am extremely proud of each of them.  All three of these young men has worked extremely hard to put themselves in the position to become a professional baseball player.  This is a great honor for our program to have three players in one year who have earned the opportunity to continue their playing careers." 
 
Gonzalez earned second team All-Big South Conference honors and was voted to the Big South All-Tournament Team.  He hit .338 on the year and led the Eagles in home runs (7), doubles (17), RBI (44) and slugging percentage (.534). 
 
Crohan, a left hander, who began the season as the Big South Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, started three games on the mound before a shoulder injury forced him to miss most of the season after he opened with a 2-0 record.  In 19 innings, he compiled a 2.37 earned run average and had 21 strikeouts and one walk.
 
Kmiec, another left hander, was Winthrop's top weekend starter.  He finished the season with a 6-7 record and a 3.82 ERA.  He started 14 games and had one complete game.  In 96.2 innings, he totaled 72 strike outs and walked 17.