Photo Courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Dylan Fearon
It’s every baseball players dream to make it to the majors; the big leagues. For Quinnipiac starting pitcher Thomas Jankins, his dream is now one step closer to becoming a reality.
The junior right-hander from West Brookfield, Massachusetts was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round (381st overall) of the 2016 MLB Draft on Saturday.
Jankins becomes just the 16th player in program history to be drafted, the first since Chris Gloor was taken by the San Fransisco Giants in 2009. The 13th round selection is the highest a Quinnipiac player has been drafted in 11 years, when the Seattle Mariners took Bryan Sabatella in the ninth round in 2005.
This isn’t the first time the Brewers have drafted a Bobcat. In 2008, the National League Central division club selected former Quinnipiac shortstop and current head coach John Delaney in the 17th round.
Jankins will leave Quinnipiac as one of the greatest pitchers in program history. His career earned-run average (ERA) of 3.50 is the lowest in Quinnipiac’s Division I program history, while also being eighth all-time in strikeouts with 180 in nearly 260 innings.
This past season was arguable Jankins’ best as a Bobcat. It was the second straight year he was selected to the All-MAAC first team and posted career-highs in strikeouts (79) and opponents batting average (.252). His career record is 16-18.
Jankins departs from Quinnipiac after the Bobcats failed to make the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time. In the 2015 tournament, Jankins led Quinnipiac to a third place finish before losing to Canisius.
The Brewers’ Rookie Class affiliate is the Helena Brewers, located in Helena, Montana. They are in Pioneer League’s North Division. Last year it finished 32-42.
