University of Lynchburg’s Richard Palase was drafted June 6 by the Seattle Mariners in the 32nd round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The senior left fielder was selected by the Mariners’ organization with the 971st pick of the three-day draft. A versatile athlete, he played shortstop and outfield in his LC career and was taken by Seattle as a second baseman.
A first-team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) first-team honoree this spring, Palase hit .305 with a .432 on-base percentage at the top of the order. With nine doubles, four triples, and seven home runs, he slugged .533 – third best on the team. Palase led the Hornets with 53 runs scored, drove in 26 runs, and stole 12 bases.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Palase. “It is nice to see all of my hard work pay off. I still can’t believe it; I’m so ecstatic.”
Palase is the first Hornet drafted since the spring of 2008, when Ronnie LaBrie was taken in the 37th round by the Washington Nationals.
