KALAMAZOO, Mich. – LHP Keegan Akin of the Western Michigan baseball team became the highest WMU draft pick since 1970 when the Baltimore Orioles selected the Midland, Mich. native with the 54th pick in the Second Round Thursday night at the MLB 2016 First Year Player Draft.
“Through the whole (MLB Draft) situation I have been very impatient. I usually go to bed at a decent time and last night I was in bed wide awake for a while thinking about everything,” Akin said. “The anticipation was bugging me and I'm sure it's going to throughout the whole process because it's my future and the one thing I've been doing most of my life is soon to be my job and lifestyle. But in the end it's a very exciting process. I would like to thank my coaches throughout the years and especially coach (Billy Gernon) and coach (Blaine McFerrin) for believing in me and giving me the wonderful opportunity to be a Bronco. Most of all, I want to thank my family for supporting me through many years of baseball and driving all over the country to come watch me play.”
The Cleveland Indians selected Harry Shaughnessy in 1970 with the 50th pick in the third round. Akin became the third player in WMU history to be drafted in the second round, along with John Kasper (1967) and Charles Kline (1966). Jim Johnson was taken in the third round, pick 41 to the Houston Astros.
Accolades have been pouring in for Akin this season, as he was voted First Team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC), All-MAC Defensive Team, MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, All-MAC Tournament Team and won the MAC West Player of the Week twice this season.
Akin finished his junior campaign with 133 strikeouts, which is good for third in the nation currently. His strikeout total also set the WMU single season record held by Pat Misch (99) since 2001. He finished with a 1.82 ERA, a mark good for 15th in the nation and second in the MAC. Akin led Western Michigan in ERA (1.82), starts (17), complete games (2), innings (109.0), opponent batting average (.192), strikeouts (133) and allowed only one home run all season.
Akin earned two wins in the MAC Tournament, including a win over Kent State in the MAC Tournament Championship, propelling Western Michigan to its first conference tournament championship in school history. The win sent WMU to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1989, where the Broncos won the MAC Regular season. For his efforts in the tournament, he was named the MAC Tournament MVP, the first in WMU history. At the end of the regular season and extending through the conference tournament, Akin put together a span of 30.2 innings without allowing an earned run.
“This is a cherry on top of a great season! Keegan was a huge part of our success and a great teammate all throughout his career,” Gernon said. “He is a special talent and even a better person. I will not be surprised to see him continue to develop and have a lengthy professional career.”
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