Kane Sweeney Selected by Yankees in MLB Draft

2015 YANKEE DRAFT PICKS | CAREER STATS | SENIOR SEASON GBG

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State senior first baseman Kane Sweeney has been selected by the New York Yankees in the 29th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
 
A native of Millstadt, Ill., Sweeney becomes the 27th player in program history to be drafted and the first since Drew Lee was taken by the Chicago White Sox in 2010. He is just the second MSU player to ever be chosen by the Yankees.
 
Sweeney joins teammate Brandon Rawe, a senior right fielder, as Eagles taken in the 2015 draft. Rawe's name was called in the 34th round by the Miami Marlins, marking the first time since 1999 MSU has had multiple players selected in the same year.
 
"This is an incredible feeling," Sweeney said. "It's something you work for your entire life. I have dreamed about playing professional baseball since I was four years old. You work your entire high school and college career to put yourself in this position."
 
Sweeney was a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference pick in 2015, leading the Eagles to their first league tournament championship since 1993 and their first NCAA Regional appearance since 1983.
 
"You wait three days to hear your name called, and it's a thrill when it happens," Sweeney added. "I monitored the draft closely, and when they said Kane Sweeney from Morehead State, I couldn't believe it."
 
Sweeney, who holds the MSU career record for walks (148) and at-bats (757), hit .353 with a team-best 15 home runs in 2015. He ranked second in the OVC in on-base percentage (.482) and drove in 62 runs.
 
"I have seen Kane's development the past three years," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "Kane changed as a player as we changed as a program. Kane put himself in this position by changing his body and developing good work habits. It's very gratifying to see someone who works as hard as Kane get an opportunity at the next level."
 
Sweeney finished his career with a team-best 37-game reached-base streak, had 25 multi-hit efforts and drove in multiple runs 15 times. He hit long balls at San Diego, Tennessee, Ohio State and off a first-round draft pick (Kyle Funkhouser) in the NCAA Regional versus Louisville. Sweeney also clubbed six career grand slams.
 
Sweeney finished his collegiate career with 251 hits, 149 RBI, 50 doubles, 30 homers, a .527 slugging efficiency and .450 on-base percentage.
 
"The Yankees organization was high on his stats," McGuire added. "Kane brings a lot to the table. He's a high on-base percentage guy, hits for power and generates a high number of extra base hits. I knew the Yankees had a lot of interest in him. Kane had a big year for us and had a ton of big hits in front of Yankee scouts."