By PAUL GOTHAM
The 2015 Major League Baseball Draft is days away, and Baseball America recently released its list of this year’s Top 500 prospects including former New York Collegiate Baseball League players Mike Bunal (Sherrill ’13), Ryan Clark (Syracuse Jr. Chiefs ’13), Dan de La Calle (Utica ’10), Tom Nagy (Syracuse Salt Cats ’14) and Ka’ai Tom (Sherrill ’13)
At No. 219, Clark represents the top-rated prospect among NYCBL alums. The right-hander started his NYCBL career tossing 13 consecutive shutout innings. He finished 4-3 in eight appearances for the J-Chiefs striking out 31 and walking six in 31-plus innings of work. Clark also appeared in the 2013 All Star game as part of the Roberto’s Kids squad. He tossed one shutout stanza. The Johnson City, native made 15 starts for UNC-Greensboro this spring registering a 7-6 mark.
Tom (No. 238), also an NYCBL all-star, led the Silversmiths with six home runs in 2013. The native of Kanhoe, Hawaii hit .278 and drove in 25 runs while collecting 14 stolen bases. In 55 starts this past spring, Tom led the Kentucky Wildcats hitting .375.
Tom’s Silversmith teammate, Bunal (No. 365), played 26 games in the field and made four appearances on the mound. The Rome, New York native hit .370 with 10 extra-base hits including three home runs and 12 RBI for the Smitties. The right-hander made 11 starts for the Binghamton Bearcats this spring. In 50 innings of work, he fanned 41, walked 21 and finished with a 4-6 record for the 17-24 Bearcats.
In 69 at bats, de La Calle (No. 368) hit .377 for the Brewers. The catcher collected seven extra-base hits and drove in 17. The Miami, Fla. native hit .257 in 59 starts for Florida State this season. He finished with a fielding percentage of .987 behind the plate.
Nagy (No. 407), last year’s home run derby champion, hit .302 for the Salt Cats in 2014. The Fairfield, CT. native collected 13 extra-base hits and drove in 23. In 33 games this spring, Nagy hit .328 and earned first team All-Northeast 10 honors for Bentley.
The Major League Baseball Draft starts on June 8th.
Ten NYCBL alums were selected in the 2014 draft.
Nine alums currently fill spots on MLB rosters.
More than fifty NYCBL alums play minor league baseball.
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