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June 9, 2007

Three Panthers Taken In MLB Draft

Filed under: Draft,Honors,Players — Dennis @ 1:57 pm

Congrats to the three current Pitt baseball players who were selected in this week’s MLB Draft.

Three current Pitt baseball players were selected on day two of the Major League Baseball draft on Friday, including Kyle Landis, Paul Nardozzi and Jordan Herr. Also drafted was Pitt signee David Kaye, a right-handed pitcher from Oakmont, Pa.

Landis was picked by the Cleveland Indians in the 18th round. He led the Panthers in earned run average and earned All-Big East Third Team honors in 2007. Nardozzi is the only Pitt senior who was selected, taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 31st round. He’s a RHP who became Pitt’s all-time leader in strikeouts earlier in the season and completed his four years with the Panthers with 260 strikeouts. Herr is an outfielder picked in the 41st round by the Chicago Cubs. He played in 49 games on the year and batted .263 on the year with a .983 fielding percentage.

Also picked was a Pitt signee, David Kaye, from Riverview High School. Kaye was selected in the 30th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. He led the WPIAL in strikeouts this season with 95.

The road to making the Major Leagues is a long and tough one with a ton of work being put in through the minor league systems. Realistically, we’ll probably never hear of these guys again as MLB players unless they excel on the farm clubs they’ll be playing for. Either way, good luck to these guys with their baseball careers.





As a long time Pitt season ticket holder, I am disappointed but not surprised. Pryor is just too good for a program as down as the Panthers. Teams with losing records and no bowl games do not even get close to signing the big talent. He is like every other national-level recruit from this area. He will be going elsewhere. Of the 5 to 7 such kids, we will be fortunate to get any of them. For Pitt, I look at them as must-get prospects if they have any hope of getting out of the bottom tier of the Big East. After all, there is no way possible that we can get national-level recruits from anywhere other than SW Pennsylvania. The sad truth is that we have no base anymore. Who ends up in Oakland from the WPIAL? The players that Ohio State, Michigan & Notre Dame don’t want. Eastern Pennsylvania? We get the Penn State rejects. I am certain that some one who reads this might comment that Pitt had 1st round NFL selection in Darelle Revis. Yes, they may get the random local star once a decade, but that one big talent is not enough to elevate the program. In fact, 3 NFL draftees are not enough. Look at last years defense. One of the worst in the country. They could make back up QBs from UConn look like Pat White. The other sad truth is that the coaching is not good enough to overcome their shortcomings and have some success. And maybe get find a hidden gem like Steve Slaton. And maybe be able to keep a local superstar home. Until then they will be a bottom feeder. As for the fabulous Mr. Pryor, I guess our mantra will be ” Anywhere but Penn State “! He is so good that the only way he can screw up his athletic career is to sign with them. 4 years of being coached by Jay Paterno and he will be back in Jeannette wondering where his NFl future has gone. They have done so much with Anthony Morelli.

Comment by Roberto 06.10.07 @ 1:25 am

Recruiting is the least of our problems, and Pryor going elsewhere shouldn’t be so bewildering—would you really want to “go away” to school 50 yards from your backyard, for 4 yearns? Under Wanny & Co. we’re top-25 2 years going. So you can cite poor coaching all you want, but to find fault with recruiting is excessive.

Comment by Neil 06.10.07 @ 1:53 pm

I completely disagree! In the times when Pitt was a power, the Panther got the top local talent. If they do not, look at the current results. As long as the Big Ten and ND get the elite players from the WPIAL, we will NEVER be much better than what we are. Talent is everything! You can only do so much with the rejects we get. We have to sign the top local guys. A superstar from another area like Larry Fitzgerald was a fluke. He came because of Harris’s passing offense. The coaching staff has recognized this fact of life in that they have given up recruiting in Florida. Why? Because Florida, Florida State & Miami and some other SEC teams get the top 60 Florida recruits. Pitt competes for the next 40. So they have moved into the DC/Northern Virginia area to try to expand their possibilities. After the losing season we will have in 2007, we may not be able to sign the level of player we could count on being able to sign.

Comment by Roberto 06.11.07 @ 10:57 am

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