In the Big Leagues

Two Greyhounds Drafted to MLB

By David Norton

Major League Baseball (MLB) drafted ENMU baseball pitchers Clyde Kendrick (Attended 14-15) and Cody Pope (BS 15) on the final day of the league’s First-Year Player Draft.

The pair are the first players drafted from Eastern since 2011. Overall, the Greyhounds now have had seven players drafted by the MLB in the program’s history.

Other drafted Greyhounds include Kevin Thompson (BS 11), 48th round, 13th pick to the LA Dodgers in 2011; Ian Thurman- Kelly (BS 05), 43rd round, 3rd pick by the NY Mets in 2004; Brian Cronk (MS 04, BS 00), 45th round, 11th pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1998; Ryan Price (Attended 97), drafted 38th Round, 18th pick by the Colorado Rockies in 1997; and John Arnold (Attended 93-96), 20th Round, 27th pick by the Atlanta Braves in 1996.

The Texas Rangers selected Clyde Kendrick in the 27th round (798 overall). The Vicksburg, Missouri native compiled a 4.47 ERA striking out 66 batters while limiting them to a .192 batting average. The left-handed pitcher had one of his best games of the season against nationally-ranked Angelo State University, striking out 10 batters.

Clyde Kendrick

Anaheim’s Los Angeles Angels drafted Cody Pope during the 29th round. The Kingman, Arizona native led the Greyhounds in innings pitched. A member of the Lone Star Conference All- Academic team, he registered multiple double digit strikeout games and was also the only pitcher from the Greyhounds to be named to the LSC All-Conference team.

Cody Pope

For head coach David Gomez, the players become the first two drafted under his tenure.

“We are really excited for these two kids. When you come to Eastern, we want kids to know they are coming here to be a student first and get a degree, but you also want them to get an opportunity to play pro ball,” said Coach Gomez. “With Clyde and Cody going in the draft, this shows that there can be a light at the end of the tunnel if you are willing to put in the work.”

Coach Gomez continued, “It was an honor coaching those guys. We had a sub-par season and to finish off the year with two guys getting drafted is a good thing. Ending on a positive note will obviously help our team in the future.”