Mifflin grad Mock drafted by Indians; Welk becomes PSU Berks’ first pick
Penn State redshirt junior pitcher Eric Mock (Shillington, Pa.) was one of three Nittany Lions drafted in the 2019 Major League Baseball Entry Draft on June 5, resulting in Penn State’s largest draft class since 2012.
Mock was taken in the 25th round with the 760th pick overall by the Cleveland Indians. He was joined by Dante Biasi (Hazleton, Pa.), who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday in the sixth round with the 169th pick overall, and Ryan Sloniger (Punxsutawney) was taken in the 38th round with the 1,137th pick overall by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Penn State Berks had its first draft pick ever when senior Toby Welk (Downingtown West) was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 21st round. Welk was the second Division III player to be taken in the 2019 draft. Right-handed pitcher Danny Cody of Baldwin Wallace University was selected in the 17th round by the Houston Astros.
The senior standout, who was the 618th pick overall, became the first member in Penn State Berks history to be drafted by one of the major U.S. sports leagues. Welk is just the second player ever drafted from the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC).
Mock is the fifth Penn State pitcher to be drafted in the past four years, joining Biasi, Dodgers’ 2018 selection Justin Hagenman (23rd round), Royals’ 2017 selection Sal Biasi (11th round) – Dante’s older brother – and Mariners’ 2016 selection Jack Anderson (23rd round). Before Anderson’s selection in 2016, just two Penn State pitchers were taken in the previous six years: Kurrasch and Walter.
“We are extremely proud and excited for Eric and his family,” said PSU head coach Rob Cooper. “He is a true Nittany Lion and put in a ton of hard work. The Indians are getting a super-competitive, winning pitcher who will continue to work hard and do well. We wish him nothing but the best.”
When the 6-2, 220-pounder enters the minor leagues, he will be the third Gov. Mifflin graduate in pro baseball. Pitcher Matt Swarmer is with Triple-A Iowa in the Cubs organization, and outfielder Niko Hulsizer is with SingleA Great Lakes in the Dodgers organization.
Despite having a year of eligibility remaining as a redshirt junior, Mock has completed his degree in kinesiology and will pursue his new baseball opportunity.
Mock has made 24 starts in 42 appearances, breaking out this past season as a weekend starter. In 2019, Mock posted a 3.93 ERA in 66.1 innings pitched, striking out 77. He allowed just two earned runs or less in eight out of his 12 starts and held opponents without a run in four starts that each lasted at least five innings. Early in the season, Mock finished one out shy of a complete game against Fairfield and also blanked then-No. 21 Duke over six innings, allowing just two hits and a walk. In his final two Big Ten starts of the year, he shutout both Rutgers and Ohio State over a combined 11 innings. At the conclusion of the regular season, Mock ranked seventh in the Big Ten with 10.45 strikeouts per nine innings and 10th with 7.46 hits allowed per nine innings.
Mock becomes the fourth Nittany Lion to be drafted by the Indians and the first since Keith Bevenour was taken in the 40th round in 1988.
Additionally, two incoming Penn State signees heard their names called Wednesday. Braden Halladay (Odessa, Fla.) was tabbed in the 32nd round by the Blue Jays, as they honored his late, Hall of Fame father, Roy Halladay, who wore jersey No. 32 in Toronto. Tanner Cooper (Canandaigua, N.Y.), who is slated to transfer to Penn State from Finger Lakes Community College, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 37th round.
The 6-2, 200-pound Welk completed his senior season at Penn State Berks as one of the top Division III hitters in the country. He batted .483 with 17 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 58 RBIs and 56 runs scored.
He led Division III in slugging percentage (.938) and RBIs per game (1.49). He ranked second in batting average and third in total bases (136).
“I now have an opportunity to represent every place that I came from,” Welk said. “I get to show what I can do on the next level and am excited to see where the game of baseball takes me.”
A Downingtown West graduate, he was named the D3baseball.com National Player of the Year and was named to the All-America first team for the second straight year.
Welk finished as the Penn State Berks career leader in hits (241), batting average (.433), doubles (53), home runs (34), RBIs (201) and slugging percentage (.768).
Welk completed his phenomenal career with the Nittany Lions as the career leader in nearly every offensive category. He ranks first all-time at Berks in hits (241), batting average (.433), doubles (53), home runs (34), RBI (201), slugging percentage (.768), and at-bats (557). Welk ranks second in runs scored (165), triples (16), onbase percentage (.508), and games started (149).
Welk is proof that you do not need to be from a major program to be drafted.
“If you work your hardest and dedicate yourself, you can show people that you are capable of making it to the next level,” says Welk. “Nothing can stop you if you work hard enough.”