LAREDO, Texas – The defending world champion Boston Red Sox added to their arsenal on Saturday via the 2014 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Boston selected Texas A&M International junior catcher Alex McKeon with the 944th pick.
McKeon was a 2014 All-Heartland Conference first teamer and Gold Glove catcher.
"He's been a work horse," TAMIU head coach Chad Porter said. "It's a well-deserved honor for him to be selected by the Boston Red Sox. No one will work harder and strive to live their dream more than Mac will.
"He is a leader on and off the field and he's something special to any team he's on."
McKeon, a Hopewell Junction, New York, native just completed his junior season with the Dustdevils (16-34), leading the team in batting average (.354), runs scored (28), doubles (15), total bases (83), slugging percentage (.516) and on-base percentage (.459). He ranked second in hits (57), triples (1), home runs (3) and third in RBI (21).
Defensively, McKeon snipered 24 attempted base runners, committing only four errors for a .983 fielding percentage.
"He's extremely difficult to replace, but at the same time other guys will get chances," Porter said. "He got better everyday. In the end, its great for Texas A&M International University and great for Alex and his family."
The All-New York State (2011) player from John Jay High School will most likely land with the Red Sox rookie level Gulf Coast League team if he opts to sign a professional deal. He would end his career with the Dustdevils with 94 games played, including 55 runs scored, 47 RBI, six home runs, 107 hits in 328 at bats and 40 extra-base hits.
He is expected to report to the Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday.
"Those kinds of numbers don't just happen," Porter said. "They are a direct result of the time and effort he's put forth. Alex is a stand out catcher, batter, teammate and leader. He couldn't be any of those things without the dedication and work ethic he has inside him."
He joins three other Heartland Conference draftees. St. Edward's Brandon Easterling was selected 588th by the Chicago White Sox, Lubbock Christian's Wigberto Navarez went 613th to the Atlanta Braves and St. Mary's Drake Roberts was picked 878th by the Cleveland Indians.
