Top Stories of 2016: #1 - Banner Draft Year
December 31, 2016
By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting
The 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft turned out to be one of the most fruitful ones of recent vintage for the state of Pennsylvania, as five high school prospects were selected. Four of those five signed with their selecting club, marking the most number of high school signees for the commonwealth since five inked deals in 2011.
| Name | Position | High School | Round | Pick | Team | Bonus | Pro Stats |
| Alex Kirilloff | OF | Plum | 1 | 15 | Twins | $2,817,100 | Elizabethton Twins |
| Nolan Jones | 3B | Holy Ghost Prep | 2 | 55 | Indians | $2,250,000 | AZL Indians |
| A.J. Alexy | RHP | Twin Valley | 11 | 341 | Dodgers | $597,500 | AZL Dodgers |
| Max Kranick | RHP | Valley View | 11 | 345 | Pirates | $300,000 | GCL Pirates |
| Dante Biasi | LHP | Hazleton Area | 22 | 674 | Cubs | - | - |
Kirilloff became the highest Pennsylvania high school signee since Punxsutawney Area catcher Devin Mesoraco was selected 15th overall by the Reds in 2007. Despite revealing in mid-May that he would require Tommy John surgery, there was some thought that Biasi could sign and rehab at the professional level, but he ultimately ended up in a Penn State uniform this school year. In addition, 23 college players who hail from the commonwealth heard their names called on draft day.
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