6/18/17

UPDATE - SIGNED - Mets' Tenth Round Pick (#307 overall) Stephen Villines





Stephen Villines (pictured at right) is the Mets' 10th round pick and 5th straight college senior RHP selection, and 6th righty in the first 10 rounds.  Love dem righties.



MetsBlog noted that  the 307th overall pick from the  University of Kansas appeared in 32 games in 2017 -- all in relief -- and posted a 2.70 ERA in 43.1 innings.


Kansas U News noted that Villines finished his four-year career as KU's all-time saves leader (40) and one shy of tying the Big 12 Conference record set by current Major Leaguer Huston Street (41). He has been the most reliable reliever out of the Kansas bullpen the last four seasons.

Awards: All-Big 12 1st Team (2017), All-Big 12 2nd Team (2016), All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Team (2014 & 2015), Big 12 All-Freshman Team (2014) and the NCBWA Freshman All-American 2nd Team (2014).

"What a remarkable four years by Stephen," Price said. "He will go down as one of the all-time great Jayhawks and now has a chance to chase his dream of playing professional baseball. I couldn't be happier for that young man."

Villines finished his career with the third-most appearances in Kansas history (114), the 10th-best strikeouts per nine innings mark (11.22) in a season, the most career saves (40) and the sixth-best single-season ERA (1.50) in the 125-year history of the program. He pitched 195 innings out of the bullpen in four seasons, compiled a 2.45 ERA, struck out 180 batters and picked up 11 wins en route to setting the new all-time saves mark at 40.

"What a dream come true," Villines said. "It means everything to me...and it couldn't have happened without the great coaching staff at Kansas. I owe it all to them."

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