By Pete Cava

PBR Indiana Correspondent 

During the June 12-14 MLB Draft, 21 big league teams selected 32 players with Indiana connections, including 23 pitchers, one catcher, four infielders and four outfielders. 

The Chicago White Sox picked up four Hoosier players (OF Craig Dedelow, RHP Will Kincanon, RHP Michael McCormick, RHP Riley Crean). 

Two each went to the Diamondbacks (3B Drew Ellis, RHP Cole Bartlett), Astros (RHPs Peter Solomon, Brandon Bielak), Dodgers (RHPs Connor Strain, Evy Ruibal), Yankees (RHP Chad Whitmer, C Ryan Lidge), Giants (OFs Aaron Bond, Dalton Combs), Angels (RHP Zac Ryan, SS Tyler Walsh), Blue Jays (RHPs Colin Brockhouse, Justin Watts) and Indians (RHP Chandler Ferguson, OF Tre’ Gantt). 

Other players with Indiana ties went to the Athletics (RHP Parker Dunshee), Marlins (LHP Sean Guenther), Mariners (LHP Max Roberts), Tigers (RHP Brandon Bass), Reds (LHP Garret Schoenle), Braves (LHP Haden Wynja), Twins (3B Luke Miller), Nationals (RHP Jeremy McKinney), Royals (RHP Damon Olds), Mets (RHP Mac Lozer), Rays (2B Trey Hair) and Cardinals (RHP Cory Malcom). 

The highest pick was Drew Ellis of the University of Louisville, a Jeffersonville High School alum.  Ellis, who’s heading to Omaha with the Cardinals for the College World Series, went in the second round (44^th overall). 

Nine Hoosier-affiliated players went in rounds one through 10;  five more in rounds 11-20, seven in rounds 21-30 and 11 in the 31st through 40^th rounds.  

Twenty-eight came from the college ranks and four were high school players. 

Six of the drafted players come from the University of Notre Dame (Sean Guenther, Peter Solomon, Brad Bass, Brandon Bielak, Evy Ruibal, Ryan Lidge).  

Three more were drafted out of Indiana State (Will Kincanon, Damon Olds, Jeremy McKinney), along with two each from Indiana (Craig Dedelow, Luke Miller) and Evansville (Connor Strain, Jeremy Hair). 

Players were selected from three other in-state schools:  Ball State (Colin Brockhouse), Southern Indiana (Justin Watts), and Huntington University (Dalton Combs). 

Former Hoosier preps were selected from a dozen out-of state colleges:  Louisville, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio State, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois Carbondale, Arkansas-Little Rock, Belmont (Nashville, Tenn.), Wabash Valley College and San Jacinto College North (Pasadena, Texas).  

The preps selected are from Lafayette Jefferson (Chandler Ferguson), Fort Wayne Northrop (Garret Schoenle), Heritage Christian (Hayden Wynja) and Bloomington North (Riley Crean).  All four high school players have college commitments (Ferguson – Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla.;  Schoenle – Cincinnati;  Wynja – Purdue;  Crean – Indiana). 

Eighteen of the players are native Hoosiers, including two each from Valparaiso (Max Roberts, Zac Ryan), South Bend (Chad Whitmer, Aaron Bond) and Fort Wayne (Colin Brockhouse, Garret Schoenle). 

The rest were born in Zionsville (Parker Dunshee), Munster (Craig Dedelow), Shelburn (Connor Strain), Lafayette (Chandler Ferguson), Richmond (Cole Bartlett), Muncie (Luke Miller), Franklin (Jeremy McKinney), Terre Haute (Damon Olds), Indianapolis (Mac Lozer), Speedway (Michael McCormick), Elkhart (Cory Malcom) and Monroe (Dalton Combs). 

Seven of the players had been drafted before, but didn’t sign, including Peter Solomon (Padres, 21^st round, 2014), Parker Dunshee (Cubs, 14^th round, 2016), Brad Bass (Cubs, 33^rd round, 2014), Craig Dedelow (Pirates, 34^th round, 2016), Aaron Bond (Cardinals, 39^th round, 2016), Ryan Lidge (Red Sox, 40^th round, 2013), Colin Brockhouse (Pirates, 37^th round, 2016) and Tyler Walsh (Rangers, 39^th round, 2016).  

For six of the drafted players, baseball is a family affair.  Ryan Lidge’s cousin is Brad Lidge, who pitched for Notre Dame and spent 10 years in the majors with the Astros, Phillies and Nationals. 

Will Kincanon’s dad, Bill Kincanon, pitched in the Reds organization from 1981-1984.  

Michael McCormick’s brother Nicholas is his teammate at Eastern Illinois).  Their father, Marcus McCormick, was their coach at Speedway High School. 

Three more had relatives who played college ball, including Drew Ellis (father Derek, Indiana State), Peter Solomon (brother Thomas, Johns Hopkins) and Brandon Bielak (brother Chris, Marist), 

Several others had relatives who played other sports.  Colin Brockhouse has two sisters who played collegiate softball (Chloe, Wilmington College; Vanessa, Hope College) 

Evy Ruibal’s uncle, Stanley Dzikowski, played college football at Alfred U. 

Among the drafted players, the most famous relative in sports is Riley Crean’s father, college basketball coach Tom Crean.  The elder Crean was an assistant at Michigan State when Riley was born in 1999.  “I had just taken the Marquette job and we were still living there before we moved to Milwaukee,” explained Tom, who was head coach for the Golden Eagles from 1999-2008 and for Indiana from 2008-2017.  

Riley’s mom, Joani Crean, whose father Jack Harbaugh was the head football coach at Western Kentucky.  Joani’s brothers are Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh, the football coach at the University of Michigan.    

Riley Crean, who also played basketball at Bloomington North, is one of several multi-sport athletes in the draft.  The list includes four three-sport preps – Parker Dunshee, Chandler Ferguson and Cole Bartlett (football, basketball), plus Michael McCormick (basketball, cross country). 

Two-sport athletes include Drew Ellis, Brad Bass, Connor Strain, Craig Dedelow, Chad Whitmer, Hayden Wynja and Damon Olds, who played basketball;  football players Colin Brockhouse, Jeremy McKinney, Garret Schoenle and Trey Hair;  and Sean Guenther, who played club beach volleyball.  

Two of the players in the draft were members of IHSAA state championship baseball teams – Zac Ryan (Andrean, 2010) and Cory Malcom (Elkhart Central, 2013). 

Chad Whitmer’s alma mater, Penn High School, meets Cathedral this Saturday in the state 4A title game.  

The complete list of players with Indiana connections selected in the 2017 MLB Draft: 

Player:  Drew Ellis. 

Round:  2.  No.:  44.  Team:   Diamondbacks. 

Position:  3B.  School:  Univ. of Louisville. 

Resides:  Jeffersonville, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/190. 

Born:  December 1, 1995, Louisville, Kentucky.   

Full Name:  Drew Mitchell Ellis.

High School:  Jeffersonville (Ind.) HS, 2014 

 

Player:  Peter Solomon. 

Round:  4.  No.:  121.  Team:   Astros. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Notre Dame. 

Resides:  Ellicott City, Maryland.  86

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/201. 

Born:  August 16, 1996, Washington, D.C.   

Full Name:  Peter Joseph Solomon. 

High School:  Mount St. Joseph HS (Baltimore, Md.), 2014.         

Previously Drafted:  21^st round (627), Padres, 2014.

 

Player:  Parker Dunshee. 

Round:  7.  No.:  201.  Team:   Athletics. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Wake Forest University. 

Resides:  Zionsville, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-1/205. 

Born:  February 12, 1995, Zionsville, Indiana.   

Full name:  Parker Edward Dunshee. 

High school:  Zionsville (Ind.) HS, 2013.

Previously Drafted:  14^th round (434), Cubs, 2016.

 

Player:  Sean Guenther. 

Round:  7.  No.:  209.  Team:  Marlins. 

Position:  LHP.  School:  Univ. of Notre Dame. 

Resides:  Brookhaven, Georgia. 

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  5-11/190. 

Born:  December 29, 1995, Atlanta, Georgia.   

Full name:  Sean McManus Guenther. 

High School:  Marist HS (Atlanta, Ga.) 2014.     

 

Player:  Max Roberts. 

Round:  7.  No.:  213.  Team:  Mariners. 

Position:  LHP.  School:  Wabash Valley College (Mt. Carmel, Ill.). 

Resides:  Valparaiso, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  6-5/190. 

Born:  July 23, 1997, Valparaiso, Indiana.      

Full Name:  Max Allan Roberts.    

High School:  Valparaiso (Ind.) HS, 2016.     

 

Player:  Brad Bass. 

Round:  7.  No.:  215.  Team:  Tigers. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Notre Dame. 

Resides:  New Lenox, Illinois. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-6/235. 

Born:  February 15, 1996, Chicago, Illinois.   

Full name:  Bradley Alexander Bass. 

High School:  Lincoln-Way Central HS (New Lenox, Ill.), 2014.   

Previously Drafted:  33rd round (979), Cubs, 2014.

 

Player:  Craig Dedelow.

Round:  9.  No.:  267.  Team:  White Sox. 

Position:  OF.  School:  Indiana University. 

Resides:  Munster, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/195. 

Born:  November 15, 1994, Munster, Indiana.  

Full Name:  Craig Allen Dedelow. 

High School:  Munster (Ind.) HS, 2013.

Previously Drafted:  34^th round (1,035), Pirates, 2016.

 

Player:  Connor Strain   

Round:  9.  No.:  280.  Team:  Dodgers. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Evansville. 

Resides:  Shelburn, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-1/180. 

Born:  August 4, 1994, Shelburn, Ind.      

Full Name:  Connor David Strain.

High School:  North Central HS (Farmersburg, Ind.), 2012.     

 

Player:  Chad Whitmer. 

Round:  10.  No.:  302.  Team:  Yankees. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Southern Illinois University Carbondale. 

Resides:  South Bend, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R/.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/195. 

Born:  May 11, 1995, South Bend, Ind.   

Full Name:  Chad Allen Whitmer.

High School:  Penn HS (Mishawaka, Ind.), 2013.     

 

Player:  Will Kincanon. 

Round:  11.  No.:  327.  Team:  White Sox. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana State Univ. 

Resides:  Riverside, Illinois. 

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/220. 

Born:  October 27, 1995, Berwyn, Illinois.   

Full Name:  William Anthony Kincanon. 

High School:  Riverside Brookfield Township HS (Riverside, Ill.) 2014. 

Junior College:  Triton JC (River Grove, Ill.), 2016.     

 

Player:  Brandon Bielak. 

Round:  11.  No.:  331.  Team:  Astros. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Notre Dame. 

Resides:  .Sayreville, New Jersey 

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-2/200. 

Born:  April 2, 1996, Edison, New Jersey.   

Full Name:  Brandon Michael Bielak. 

High School:  St. Joseph HS (Metuchen, N.J.), 2014.     

 

Player:  Aaron Bond.

Round:  12.  No.:  366.  Team:  Giants. 

Position:  OF.  School:  San Jacinto College North (Pasadena, Texas). 

Resides:  South Bend, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-5/195. 

Born:  February 16, 1997, South Bend, Indiana.  

Full name:  Aaron Robert Bond. 

High school:  South Bend (Ind.) Clay HS, 2015.

Previously Drafted:  39^th round (1,186), Cardinals, 2016. 

 

Player:  Evy Ruibal. 

Round:  16.  No.:  490.  Team:  Dodgers. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Notre Dame. 

Resides:  Millburn, New Jersey. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/205. 

Born:  September 29, 1995, Livingston, New Jersey   

Full Name:  Evelino A. Ruibal. 

High School:  Millburn (N.J.) HS, 2014.     

 

Player:  Ryan Lidge. 

Round:  20.  No.:  602.  Team:  Yankees. 

Position:  C.  School:  Univ. of Notre Dame. 

Resides:  Barrington, Illinois. 

B/T:  S/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-2/205. 

Born:  October 27, 1994, Arlington Heights, Illinois.   

Full Name:  Ryan Thomas Lidge. 

High School:  Barrington (Ill.) HS, 2013.    

Previously Drafted:  40^th round (1,193), Red Sox, 2013

 

Player:  Zac Ryan. 

Round:  23.  No.:  685.  Team:  Angels. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Georgia Tech. 

Resides:  Valparaiso, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-2/210. 

Born:  May 28, 1994, Merrillville, Indiana.   

Full Name:  Zachary Allen Ryan. 

High School:  Andrean HS (Merrillville, Ind.), 2013.     

 

Player:  Colin Brockhouse. 

Round:  24.  No.:  729.  Team:  Blue Jays. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Ball State University. 

Resides:  Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/194. 

Born:  July 23, 1995, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Full name:  Colin David Brockhouse. 

High school:  Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop HS, 2014.    

Previously Drafted:  37^th round (1,125), Pirates, 2016.

 

Player:  Chandler Ferguson. 

Round:  25.  No.:  261.  Team:  Indians. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Lafayette (Ind.) Jefferson HS. 

Resides:  Lafayette, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/193. 

Born:  March 3, 1998, Lafayette, Indiana.  

Full Name:  Elias Chandler Quentin Ferguson.    

College Commitment:  Northwest Florida State College (Niceville, Fla.).     

 

Player:  Cole Bartlett. 

Round:  25.  No.:  742.  Team:  Diamondbacks. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Missouri. 

Resides:  Williamsburg, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-2/195. 

Born:  December 22, 1994, Richmond, Indiana.   

Full Name:  Cole Landry Bartlett. 

High School:  Hagerstown (Ind.) HS, 2013.     

 

Player:  Tre’ Gantt. 

Round:  29.  No.:  882.  Team:  Indians. 

Position:  OF.  School:  Ohio State Univ. 

Resides:  Fishers, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  5-10/186. 

Born:  May 10, 1996, Davenport, Iowa.      

Full Name:  Tre’ Patrick Gantt. 

High School:  Hamilton Southeastern HS (Fishers, Ind.) 2014.     

 

Player:  Garret Schoenle. 

Round:  30.  No.:  887.  Team:  Reds. 

Position:  LHP.  School:  Northrop HS (Fort Wayne, Ind.). 

Resides:  Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/190. 

Born:  June 21, 1998, Fort Wayne, Ind.   

Full Name:  Garret Jeffrey Schoenle.    

College Commitment:  Univ. of Cincinnati.     

 

Player:  Hayden Wynja. 

Round:  30.  No.:  890.  Team:  Braves. 

Position:  LHP.  School:  Heritage Christian HS (Indianapolis, Ind.). 

Resides:  Indianapolis, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  6-8/190. 

Born:  October 14, 1998, Des Moines, Iowa.   

Full Name:  Hayden Blake Wynja.   

College Commitment:  Purdue Univ.

 

Player:  Luke Miller. 

Round:  31.  No.:  916.  Team:  Twins. 

Position:  3B.  School:  Indiana Univ. 

Resides:  Muncie, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/185. 

Born:  July 17, 1996, Muncie, Indiana.      

Full Name:  Luke Douglas Miller.    

High School:  Cowan HS (Muncie, Ind.), 2015.     

 

Player:  Jeremy McKinney. 

Round:  31.  No.:  943.  Team:  Nationals. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana State Univ.

Resides:  Franklin, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-0/190. 

Born:  December 8, 1994, Franklin, Ind.   

Full Name:  Jeremy Baker McKinney. 

High School:  Franklin(Ind.) Community HS, 2014.     

Junior College:  Northwest Florida State College (Niceville, Fla.), 2014.

 

Player:  Tyler Walsh.

Round:  33.  No.:  985.  Team:  Angels. 

Position:  SS.  School:  Belmont University. 

Resides:  Evansville, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-5/215. 

Born:  April 11, 1995, Albany, New York.  

Full name:  Tyler Anthony Walsh. 

High school:  Evansville (Ind.) Mater Dei HS, 2013.

Previously Drafted:  39^th round (1,179), Rangers, 2016.

 

Player:  Damon Olds. 

Round:  33.  No.:  990.  Team:  Royals.                          

Position:  RHP.  School:  Indiana State Univ. 

Resides:  Terre Haute, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-4/190. 

Born:  October 17, 1994, Terre Haute, Ind.   

Full Name:  Damon Lee Olds. 

High School:  South Vigo HS (Terre Haute, Ind.), 2013.

Junior College:  Lincoln Trail College (Robinson, Illinois), 2015.     

 

Player:  Mac Lozer. 

Round:  33.  No.:  997.  Team:  Mets. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Michigan. 

Resides:  Indianapolis, Indiana. 

B/T: R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/190. 

Born:  July 18, 1995, Indianapolis, Indiana.   

Full Name:  MacLeod Scott Lozer 

High School:  North Central HS (Indianapolis, Ind.), 2013.     

 

Player:  Trey Hair. 

Round:  34.  No.:  1,009.  Team:  Rays. 

Position:  2B.  School:  Univ. of Evansville. 

Resides:  Firth, Nebraska. 

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  5-10/185. 

Born:  April 21, 1995, Lincoln, Nebraska.     

Full Name:  Trey Kenneth Hair.    

High School: Norris HS (Firth, Neb.), 2013.      

 

Player:  Michael McCormick. 

Round:  34.  No.:  1,017.  Team:  White Sox. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Eastern Illinois Univ. 

Resides:  Speedway, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/190. 

Born:  December 8, 1993, Speedway, Ind.   

Full Name:  Michael Andrew McCormick.    

High School:  Speedway HS (Indianapolis, Ind.), 2012.     

Previous Colleges:  U.S. Naval Academy 2014;  Parkland College (Champaign, Illinois) 2015.

 

Player:  Cory Malcom. 

Round:  34.  No.:  1,024.  Team:  Cardinals. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Arkansas-Little Rock. 

Resides:  Elkhart, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-0/190. 

Born:  January 31, 1995, Elkhart, Indiana.   

Full Name:  Cory Scott Malcom. 

High School:  Elkhart (Ind.) Central HS, 2013.     

 

Player:  Riley Crean. 

Round:  35.  No.:  1,047.  Team:  White Sox. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Bloomington (Ind.) North HS

Resides:  Bloomington, Indiana. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/180. 

Born:  April 12, 1999, Lansing, Michigan.   

Full Name:  Riley Thomas Crean.    

College Commitment:  Indiana Univ.     

 

Player:  Dalton Combs. 

Round:  35.  No.:  1,056.  Team:  Giants. 

Position:  OF.  School:  Huntington (Ind.) Univ. 

Resides:  Monroe, Indiana. 

B/T:  L/L.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/200. 

Born:  October 29, 1994, Monroe, Ind.   

Full Name:  Dalton Lee Combs. 

High School:  Adams Central HS (Monroe, Ind.), 2013.     

 

Player:  Justin Watts. 

Round:  37.  No.:  1,119.  Team:  Blue Jays. 

Position:  RHP.  School:  Univ. of Southern Indiana. 

Resides:  Bryan, Ohio. 

B/T:  R/R.  Ht./Wt.:  6-3/215. 

Born:  September 8, 1993, Bryan, Ohio.   

Full Name:  Justin Michael Watts. 

High School:  Bryan (Ohio) HS, 2013.     

Previous Colleges:  Lincoln Trail College (Robinson, Illinois), 2014;  Northern Kentucky (Univ.), 2016.

Pete Cava is the author of “Tales From the Cubs Dugout” and “Indiana-Born Major League Baseball Players:  A Biographical Dictionary, 1871-2014.”