OXFORD, Ohio -- Junior right-hand pitcher Sam Bachman was selected ninth overall by Los Angeles Angels on Sunday evening in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. Bachman becomes the first RedHawk to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft in school history and is the highest Miami student-athlete drafted since Wally Szczerbiak was picked sixth in 1999.
"I didn't think I was going to tear up, but instead I cried," said Bachman. "It hit me really hard, and I am just grateful and ready to get to work."
The Fishers, Ind., native went 4-4 in 2021 in 12 starts, recording a 1.81 earned-run average. He finished the year with 93 strikeouts in 59.2 innings, clocking a fastball that routinely surpassed 100 mph. The first-team All-MAC performer allowed a .147 batting average against and finished the year with a .77 WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched), second-best in the nation.
"The first day I stepped on campus I could just tell Miami was fully vested in baseball and knew this was going to be the place for me," said Bachman. "I'm blessed to represent Miami and wouldn't have it any other way."
Bachman finished his RedHawks' career with a 12-7 record, recording a 3.06 ERA, while striking out 199 batters in 159 innings pitched. He was named a Freshman All-American and the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2019.
"It was a flood of emotions for me, and I can only imagine what it was like for Sam," said head coach Danny Hayden. "I had a four-and-a-half year relationship flash past me in a few seconds (when his name appeared on the screen). He is going to be the easiest kid to root for and has been an absolute pleasure to coach and be around. I can't wait for the next chapter, but, however it plays out, Sam is going to do it with a lot of character and pride.
"Sam has a lot of great people in his life helping him with his pitching but what separates him is he is more disciplined than 99.9% of the population," Hayden continued. "He is willing to sacrifice things other people are not willing to do. Sam takes himself seriously as a baseball player. That is why he was able to enjoy this night, this moment."
2021 Mid-American Conference MLB Draft Picks
1st Round (Pick 9, Los Angeles Angels) -- Sam Bachman, RHP, Miami
The Fishers, Ind., native went 4-4 in 2021 in 12 starts, recording a 1.81 earned-run average. He finished the year with 93 strikeouts in 59.2 innings, clocking a fastball that routinely surpassed 100 mph. The first-team All-MAC performer allowed a .147 batting average against and finished the year with a .77 WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched), second-best in the nation. Bachman finished his RedHawks' career with a 12-7 record, recording a 3.06 ERA, while striking out 199 batters in 159 innings pitched. He was named a Freshman All-American and the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2019.
CB Round (Pick 68, Colorado Rockies) -- Joe Rock, LHP, Ohio
This year, Rock went 8-3 with a 2.33 earned run average in 14 starts, striking out 117 batters while permitting just 23 earned runs on 67 hits and 27 walks over 88.2 innings of work. He ranked third in the MAC in strikeouts and innings pitched, fourth in ERA and tied for fourth in wins. Rock helped lead the Bobcats to a 28-25 record this season, which marked the first winning season for Ohio since 2017. Rock was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I East All-Region First Team, to the 2021 All-Mid-American Conference First Team as well as Collegiate Baseball's 2021 NCAA Division I All-American Second Team, powered by Diamond.
4th Round (Pick 132, Houston Astros) -- Chayce McDermott, RHP, Ball State
The 2021 Second Team All-Mid-American Conference and ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) All-Region honoree found success this season on the mound, posting an 8-2 record with a 3.05 ERA. He finished the regular season fifth in the nation with 125 strikeouts while averaging 13.61 K's per nine-inning game which ranked 12th nationally. In 15 starts, McDermott held opponents to a .204 batting average over 82.2 innings pitched and ranked eighth in the MAC with a 1.15 WHIP.
6th Round (Pick 168, Arizona Diamondbacks) -- Luke Albright, RHP, Kent State
The right-hander had an All-Conference season for the Golden Flashes, earning second team All-Conference honors. He finished the 2021 season with a 6-4 record and a 3.40 earned run average over a team-best 82 innings. He was one of five MAC pitchers to top 100 strikeouts on the season, finishing with 102. He averaged over a strikeout per inning in MAC play as well, fanning 70 batters in 53 frames. Albright was on the mound for Kent State's signature win of the season, going six and two-thirds innings of one-run baseball in the 9-6 victory over eventual NCAA champion Mississippi State.
10th Round (Pick 283, Pittsburgh Pirates) -- Justin Meis, RHP, Eastern Michigan
EMU's most consistent presence on the bump, Meis finished the 2021 campaign with 14 appearances, and a career-high 13 starts. He again paced the Eagles with 73.2 innings pitched and 81 strikeouts, both career-best stats for the Steel City product. His ERA was a career-low 4.64 in 2021, and his career-best four wins tied for second among EMU players.
13th Round (Pick 375, Detroit Tigers) -- Chris Meyers, 1B, Toledo
Meyers' 2021 season was one for the record books. He tied the school record with 15 home runs this past season while batting .378 and driving in 55 runs, leading the MAC in all three categories, making him the league's first Triple Crown winner since 1998 (Tom Kuempel, Marshall). Meyers also led the conference in slugging percentage (.739) and doubles (18) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.509) and third in runs scored (50). He ended the season 11th in the country in slugging and 16th in on-base percentage. An intimidating presence in the batter's box, Meyers led the MAC in intentional walks with nine. He accumulated 39 walks in 2021, one off the school record of 40 (Andy Stetka, 2001).
14th Round (Pick 406, Boston Red Sox) -- Jacob Webb, RHP, Miami
The right-hand pitcher had a 2.08 earned run average in 18 appearances this past season, recording 59 strikeouts in 39.0 innings pitched. He picked up his lone win, striking out 10 batters in 5.0 innings back on March 20 versus Toledo. Webb, a native of Fairborn, Ohio, finished his career with a 2.90 ERA. He recorded 72 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched during his Miami career.
15th Round (Pick 450, Cincinnati Reds) -- Blake Dunn, OF, Western Michigan
The Saugatuck, Michigan, native becomes the first draft pick out of Western since Nic Laio and Connor Smith were both selected in the 2018 draft (the 2020 draft was limited to five rounds and 160 picks due to the COVID-19 pandemic). He becomes the first Bronco drafted by the Reds since Adam Rosales in 2005 (12th round). Western Michigan has had 34 former players reach the big leagues, most recently Keegan Akin with the Baltimore Orioles. Dunn was named the Preseason MAC Player of the Year by D1Baseball in 2021, but battled through an early-season injury. He finished the season hitting .305 in 27 games with a .474 on-base percentage and .576 slugging percentage. He finished with 14 RBI, four doubles, four home runs and three stolen bases. As a sophomore in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Dunn played in all 15 games, hitting a pair of homers with 17 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
16th Round (Pick 491, Tampa Bay Rays) -- Ian Leatherman, RHP, Central Michigan
Leatherman, a hard-throwing sophomore right-hander from Jenison, is 5-2 with seven saves and a 4.36 earned run average in his three seasons as a Chippewa. He has struck out 82 and walked 29 in 72 1/3 innings.