KACZROWSKI GOES TO ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS IN THE 26TH ROUND

Recent Hamline graduate Dan Kaczrowski (SS, St. Anthony, Minn.) was the 786th pick overall in the 2009 MLB draft, as the Arizona Diamondbacks chose him in the 26th round on Wednesday.

He hit .286 in 12 games with the Saints, knocking in five runs with a double and a home run.

"What Dan has accomplished is pretty remarkable. It's a compliment to his hard work and his family's support," said Hamline head coach and Saints pitching coach Jason Verdugo.

Verdugo adds, "He worked hard and learned from his mentors, not just his coaches but his teammates like Andrew Bennett (2008 Hamline graduate and current Saints infielder). This is great for both the MIAC and Hamline."

Kaczrowski ended his collegiate career on both the All-MIAC and the American Baseball Coaches Association Division III All-Midwest Region first teams. En route to earning those honors, he hit .463 in MIAC play (20 games).

Also in conference play this season, he produced a slugging percentage of .612 and an on base percentage of .513. Kaczrowski was 15-for-15 in stolen bases against conference opponents and scored a team-high 22 runs in MIAC play.

While leading the Pipers to their second straight MIAC playoff appearance and third in four years, Kaczrowski led the conference in stolen bases and steal attempts. He was in the top ten in MIAC statistics in batting average (fourth), on base percentage (sixth), runs scored (third), and hits (third).

Overall in 2009 he led the team with a .393 batting average and had 26 RBI while hitting ten doubles and a team-high four home runs. He struck out just five times in 150 at bats and drew a team-high 21 walks.

Kaczrowski was 23-for-23 in stolen bases and had streak of 27 stolen bases extending into the end of the 2008 season - ending his career with one of the top ten active stolen base streaks in all of NCAA baseball.

Additionally, he led the team with an overall slugging percentage of .540 and an on base percentage of .478.

Kaczrowski joins Saints teammate RHP Tanner Scheppers in the 2009 draft class. Scheppers, a former standout at Fresno State, was picked 44th overall yesterday by the Texas Rangers.