MLB Draft local recap: Trevor Kelley, E.J. Jenkins and 5 UNCW Seahawks

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The 2015 Major League Baseball Draft wrapped up on Wednesday. Click the icon above to see our story that we aired on Wednesday in regard to the players that were selected with local ties.

West Columbus outfielder E.J. Jenkins was selected in the 2nd round by Texas. (45th overall pick)(UNCW signee). Jenkins will only play at UNCW if he fails to reach a contractual agreement with the Rangers.

Former Ashley High pitcher Trevor Kelley was selected in the 36th round by the Boston Red Sox. Kelley recently concluded his college baseball career at UNC Chapel Hill.

5 UNCW Seahawks were drafted:
Pitcher Jordan Ramsey was picked in the 7th round by Cincinnati.
Outfielder Zach Shields was picked in the 10th round by Cincinnati.
Pitcher Evan Phillips was picked in the 17th round by Atlanta.
Pitcher Nick Monroe was picked in the 21st round by San Diego.
Pitcher Will Shepley was picked in the 31st round by Baltimore.

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Note: Trevor Kelley is an Ashley High grad. Click the icon above to see our interview with Trevor Kelley that aired on Wednesday night on WWAY.  What was his initial reaction after Boston made the call? “I just started crying because it was such a surreal moment. Being drafted by the Red Sox is a dream come true. I couldn’t be any happier. I am really excited to get started with the Red Sox.”

Trevor Kelley is a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan.

CHAPEL HILL, NC (UNC) — Korey Dunbar, Landon Lassiter and Trevor Kelley were selected on the final day of the 2015 MLB Draft Wednesday afternoon. Dunbar was a 20th-round pick of the Miami Marlins, while Lassiter went one round later to the Chicago White Sox and Kelley was taken in the 36th round by the Boston Red Sox.

Dunbar had his best year as a Tar Heel in 2015, batting .288 with six homers and a team-best 16 doubles while catching almost every inning of every game in the final three months of the season. The Charleston, West Virginia, junior threw out 21 would-be base stealers on the year.

Lassiter hit .300 with 14 doubles in his junior campaign. The High Point product tied for the team lead with 61 hits and was third on the squad with 36 walks.

Kelley was one of the nation’s most important pitchers in 2015. The senior from Wilmington appeared in 41 of Carolina’s 58 games and posted a 5-3 record with a 2.55 ERA in 77.2 innings. Kelley struck out 71 batters against just 20 walks and finished his UNC career in the top 10 in school history in appearances.

Three more UNC commits were also selected Wednesday – catcher Wyatt Cross went in the 33rd round to Colorado, catcher Brendan Illies went in the 33rd round to the New York Mets and lefty Brendon Little went in the 36th round to San Francisco.

Former Carolina right-hander Taylore Cherry was a 32nd round pick of the Chicago White Sox.

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) —  Three UNCW pitchers were selected on Wednesday, the final day of the Major League Baseball draft. Evan Phillips went in the 17th round to Atlanta, Nick Monroe in the 21st round to San Diego and William Shepley was taken in the 31st round by Baltimore.

The Seahawks finished with five players drafted, coming up one short of tying the program’s record of six, set in 2006.

While it was the second time for Phillips being selected in the MLB draft after also being taken in the 2012 draft by Kansas City, it was the first time for both Monroe and Shepley.

UNCW also had another incoming pitcher taken in the draft when Seattle tabbed Joseph Peeler in the 25th round.

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) –  Junior Evan Phillips became the third Seahawk to be taken in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft when the Atlanta Braves called his name in the 17th round on Wednesday.

Phillips joins teammates Jordan Ramsey and Zach Shields and incoming recruit Eric Jenkins to be selected in this year’s draft. Ramsey and Shields were both selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh and 10th rounds, respectively on Tuesday while Jenkins was picked by the Texas Rangers with the 45th pick overall on Monday.

Phillips helped the Seahawks down the stretch with some of his most impressive performances coming in the final week of the regular and both weekend in the postseason. In his final start of the regular season, Phillips went a season-high seven innings against James Madison while limiting the Dukes to a run on five hits and a walk. In the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, he stymied nationally-ranked College of Charleston for 6.1 innings, holding the Cougars to two unearned runs on two hits and three walks. Phillips closed out his season with six innings of one-run baseball against top-ranked LSU at the Baton Rouge Regional.

Over his final four appearances, Phillips struck out 22 and walked just four in 23 innings. He compiled a 1.17 earned run average and led the staff with a 0.73 ERA in the postseason.

On the season, Phillips finished with a 2-2 record and a 4.56 ERA and was named to the CAA All-Tournament team.

Phillips was previously drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 33rd round of the 2012 MLB draft.

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) – Junior Nick Monroe was picked in the 21st round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, becoming the fourth Seahawk to be selected this draft.

Monroe, who was drafted for the first time, finished his season with a 4-3 record while pitching Friday nights for the Seahawks. He tied for the Colonial Athletic Association lead with 16 starts, a career-high. In his final start of the season, he helped the Seahawks advance to the regional championship round in Baton Rouge with a season-high 8.2 innings while allowing just two runs on six hits as UNCW eliminated Tulane with an 8-2 victory.

The Seahawks compiled a 12-4 record in games started by Monroe this season. He led the staff with 70 strikeouts in 78 innings; both were career-highs for the righthander. Monroe struck out a career-high nine in a start against Delaware in early May. He had five outings of at least six strikeouts.

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — UNCW reliever William Shepley became the third Seahawk to be picked on Wednesday and the fifth overall as the Baltimore Orioles selected the lefthander in the 31st round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Shepley joins Jordan Ramsey as the second reliever of UNCW’s talented bullpen to be picked in the draft. As a junior, Shepley went undefeated with a 4-0 mark and two saves in a career-high 25 appearances. In 28 innings, he struck out a career-high 32 while limiting opponents to a .208 batting average.

In three seasons as a reliever, Shepley went 7-0 while pitching in 56 games. He struck out 57 in 58.2 innings and compiled a .233 opponent’s batting average.

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CERRO GORDO, NC (WWAY) – West Columbus outfielder E.J. Jenkins was selected in the 2nd round by Texas. (45th overall pick)(UNCW signee). Jenkins will only play at UNCW if he fails to reach a contractual agreement with the Rangers. We showcased Jenkins prior to the MLB last week, plus we showcased E.J. Jenkins on Monday and Tuesday. Here’s more info on the 45th overall pick. 

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