June 8, 2011
- 2011 Iowa Baseball Media Guide
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Take the Hawkeyes With You: Iowa Podcasts
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa incoming baseball recruits Sasha Kuebel and Nick Hibbing were selected in Major League Baseball’s 2011 First-Year Player Draft Wednesday. Kuebel, a left-handed pitcher, was selected in the 31st round (946th pick) by the Oakland Athletics and Hibbing, a right-handed pitcher, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 42nd round (1262).
Kuebel, a native of St. Louis, is ranked as the sixth-best player in the state by Perfect Game USA. He is a two-time all-metro honoree and two-time all-state selection. As a freshman, Kuebel was named an underclass all-American by MaxPreps. He has compiled a 17-3 record over the last two years.
Hibbing, who hails from Lindenhurst, Ill., is ranked the 16th-best player in the state by Perfect Game USA. The Lakes Community High School standout was a Perfect Game Preseason All-American, all-conference, all-district and all-state honoree as a junior. Last March, he was ranked No. 10 in the class of 2011 by Prep Baseball Report. Hibbing holds the school record for lowest ERA over 40 innings (1.09). In addition, he was the starting quarterback for his high school’s football team, leading them to its first ever playoff win in 2009.
Iowa junior starting left-handed pitcher Matt Dermody was selected in the Draft Tuesday by the Colorado Rockies in the 29th round (888th pick) and incoming recruit Derrick Loveless was selected in the 27th round (827) by the Toronto Blue Jays.
“We are excited for them,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “We are very excited about this incoming class. We had three players drafted; that is the most we have ever had in an incoming class. All are very talented along with the other players in the class. All are very good students and we are hoping we can keep them.”
Loveless, Hibbing and Kuebel were part of the 2011 Iowa recruiting class that ranked best in the Big Ten Conference by Perfect Game USA. In addition, Perfect Game USA ranked the class No. 48 nationally and fourth-best in the Midwest.
“We think we can have a very good team next year,” said Dahm. “In addition, we feel we will have a very good pitching staff, as indicated by the Draft.
“It was a positive day,” said Dahm. “Yet we are disappointed for our seniors Zach Kenyon, Trevor Willis and Tyson Blaser that did not get drafted. We are still optimistic they can continue their careers via free agency.”
Under Dahm, 26 Hawkeyes have been drafted. Twenty players have been drafted in the past five years.