Four former Danville Dans have been chosed in the MLB Draft, including two in the first four rounds.
Paul Richan, a junior RHP from University of San Diego, was Round 2 Compensation selection by the Chicago Cubs. The 78th pick overall was a member of the 2016 Danville Dans. He’s from Newhall, CA.
Another 2016 Dan, Alfonso Rivas, was taken in the fourth round by the Oakland A’s. The Arizona Wildcat junior and San Diego, CA native was selected as a first baseman with the 113th pick.
Pitcher Alec Barger, a member of last year’s Dans roster, was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th Round. The starting pitcher – from Savoy, IL – played this year at Polk State College in Florida after a year at Northern Illinois.
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Connor Mitchell with the last pick of the 27th Round. The left-handed starting pitcher was a red-shirt junior at Butler University. A member of the 2015 Dans roster, he is from Planfield, IN.
This is the first time since 2013 that the Dans have had two former players selected in the first 10 rounds. The last draftee in the top 10 rounds was 2014 Dans Ronnie Jebavy, selected by the Giants in 2015. There have been 23 former Danville Dans drafted in the last five years, plus two more signing as free agents.
“We’re always proud to see our Dans get picked in the MLB draft,” said Dans managing partner Jeanie Cooke. “This is another sign that what we do here in Danville works in helping players develop for their future in baseball.”
Once signed, these players join more than 200 Dans alumni past and present who have played professional ball – including 27 who have made it into an MLB uniform.
The Danville Dans are in their 31st season of wooden bat summer college baseball. The Dans are a founding member of the Prospect League, which was formed from the long-time Central Illinois Collegiate League – CICL.
For more information about the Danville Dans, including upcoming home game schedule, visit www.DanvilleDans.com.
