Former Generals shortstop Kenny Jackson was selected in the 31st round by the Florida Marlins
A day after seeing three players with ties to the Victoria Generals taken the top 30 rounds of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, the Generals heard six more names called on Wednesday afternoon who have all worn a Victoria Generals uniform. A franchise-record nine current and former Generals were selected in the 2011 MLB draft.
On Tuesday, the Generals saw Bryson Myles taken in the 6th round by the Cleveland Indians, Abel Baker taken in the 7th round by the Los Angeles Angels, and David Rollins taken in the 24th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Wednesday, former Generals shortstop and current Texas A&M University Aggie, Kenny Jackson, was selected in the 31st round by the Florida Marlins. Jackson was the Generals starting shortstop in both 2009 and 2010 and was a big part of the Generals 2010 Texas Collegiate League Championship team.
Jackson and the Aggies are still playing in the NCAA post-season as Super Regional play begins this weekend. Jackson is currently hitting .274 with eight doubles, two home runs, 33 runs scored, and 25 RBIs. Texas A&M will visit Florida State University this weekend to take on the Seminoles in a three-game series. The winner will advance to the College World Series.
Ryan Turner was the next former General to hear his named called on Wednesday as he was selected in the 32nd round by the Tampa Bay Rays. Turner is no stranger to the MLB draft, as this was his fourth time in five years to be selected. Turner was taken in the 22nd round out of high school in 2007 by Tampa Bay, in the 30th round by Tampa Bay in 2008, and in the 49th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2010.
Turner just completed his junior year as the closer at Tarleton State University where he posted a 5-3 record to go along with 12 saves and a 2.68 ERA. Turner struck out 64 batters in 40.1 innings on the season.
The reigning TCL Pitcher of the Year, Joseph Dvorsky, was the next to go as he was selected in the 35th round by the Chicago White Sox. Dvorsky hurled the first ever nine-inning no-hitter in TCL history last summer.
Dvorsky just completed his senior year at Texas State University where he posted a 3-0 record to go along with seven saves and a 2.08 ERA. Dvorsky struck out 38 batters in 41.1 innings for the Bobcats.
Current Generals catcher Kyle Arnsberg was then taken in the 40th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the second time in Arnsberg’s short career to be drafted. Arnsberg was selected in the 35th round out of high school in 2009 by the Boston Red Sox.
Kyle just completed his redshirt-freshman year at McLennan Community College where he played for former Generals head coach Chris Clemons. Arnsberg hit .290 on the season with 16 doubles, three home runs, 33 runs scored, and 34 RBIs while leading the Highlanders to the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Championship.
Arnsberg is the son of current Houston Astros pitching coach Brad Arnsberg.
In the 44th round, Blake Ford, a member of the 2009 Victoria Generals, was selected by the Houston Astros. Ford was the ace of the Lamar University staff this season as a senior, going 6-4 on the year with a 3.42 ERA. Ford struck out 78 batters in 102.2 innings on the season.
Conner Mach was then selected in the 46th round by the New York Yankees. Mach caught fire at the end of his junior season at the University Missouri, turning in a .288 batting average on the year with 12 doubles, three home runs, 30 runs scored, and 31 RBIs. Mach was an All-TCL selection in 2010 as a second baseman.
This year’s draft haul brings the total number of Generals drafted to 11 as the Generals are only in their third season of existence.
The Generals return home on Friday, June 10 for the third annual Diamonds on the Diamond event presented by Torin Bales Fine Jewelry. The first 100 women ages 18 and up who walk through the gates on Friday night will be registered to compete in the night’s festivities. The Generals will be giving away great prizes all night long, including the grand prize: diamond earrings from the Torin Bales Collection valued at $1,500. Gates open at 5:30pm at Riverside Stadium on Friday night as the Generals will take on the Brazos Valley Bombers starting at 7:05pm.
