Rutgers Baseball: Mark McCoy Drafted by Kansas City Royals

Rutgers junior LHP Mark McCoy was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 29th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday. McCoy was the 879th overall pick.

McCoy has one year of eligibility remaining, so he could conceivably return to the Scarlet Knights’ rotation in 2016. The Barnegat, NJ native has until July 17th to decide between signing with the Royals and beginning his professional career or staying at Rutgers for one more season.

Rutgers LHP Mark McCoy (ScarletKnights.com).

McCoy, who transferred from Wake Forest prior to last season, struggled at times in his first year on the banks. In 13 games (12 starts), McCoy was 2-8 with a 5.71 ERA. Opponents hit .331 against him.

However, McCoy led all starters (with five or more starts) with 6.57 strikeouts per nine innings. He also ended his season on a high note, pitching four scoreless innings of relief against #13 Iowa, earning the save in Rutgers’ season finale. McCoy’s size (listed at 6-2, 200 pounds) also makes him intriguing to MLB scouts.

This is McCoy’s second time being selected in the draft, as he was a 26th round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012. However, the southpaw opted to forego the draft and enroll at Wake Forest.

This is the second straight year a Scarlet Knight has been selected in the draft. Last year, infielder Brian O’Grady was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the 8th round.

McCoy is the fourth Scarlet Knight to be drafted by the Royals since 2000. Kansas City has also selected infielder Mike Bionde (36th round pick in 2007), infielder Darren Fenster (12th round pick in 2000) and outfielder David DeJesus (4th round pick in 2000). DeJesus, now with the Tampa Bay Rays, spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Royals, posting a .289/.360/.427 line and finishing 6th in the 2004 Rookie of the Year voting.