QU Baseball's Robbie Hitt and Matthew Batten Selected in 2017 MLB Draft
6/14/2017 4:07:00 PM | Baseball
Quinnipiac baseball's Robbie Hitt (Suffield, Connecticut) and Matthew Batten (Shelton, Connecticut) were selected in 2017 Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Hitt in the 24th round with the 714th overall pick of the draft, while the San Diego Padres took Batten in the 32nd round with 948th overall pick. Hitt and Batten are the 22nd and 23rd players, respectively, in Quinnipiac baseball history to be taken in the MLB draft.
"It's an indescribable feeling," Hitt said. "I'm so excited to become a part of the Brewers organization. It truly is a dream come true."
Hitt completed his junior season with the Bobcats in 2017, posting a 2-5 record with a with a 5.37 earned-run average after logging a team-high 58 2/3 innings on the mound. Hitt made 11 appearances for the Bobcats, including 10 starts. In seven starts against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Hitt was 2-4 in seven weekend-series starts while striking out 36 across a team-leading 42 innings pitched.
"Robbie has been an important part of the foundation of our program for the last three years," Delaney said. "He's proven to be dominant and a pitcher that most hitters wouldn't want to face. I'm proud to see this young man take the next step forward in his career as a Brewer."
As a sophomore in 2016, Hitt led the team and broke the Quinnipiac single-season record with eight saves and finishes with 10 for his career. Hitt appeared in 24 games, including five starts. As a reliever, he posted a 2-0 record with a 2.24 ERA to go along with the record-breaking eight saves. In 32 1/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Bobcats, hit allowed just eight runs on 29 hits while striking out 26. His brilliant second season came after an outstanding freshman year in which he won a team-high six games while ranking second on the Bobcats' pitching staff with 49 strikeouts, 7.63 strikeouts per nine-innings pitched and ranked third with a 4.10 ERA.
For his career, Batten finished with program records in total hits (249) and stolen bases (65) while also tying Quinnipiac's Division I record for runs scored (139). In addition, he became the first player in Quinnipiac history to record 50 hits in all four seasons of his career and the 10th player in Quinnipiac's Division I history to drive in 100 runs in a career. Consequently, he is the only player in Quinnipiac history to college 240 hits, 130 runs and 100 runs scored.
"This is the best day of my baseball career," Batten said. "I can't thank all of my coaches, teammates and everyone involved at Quinnipiac that helped me along this path. I want to especially thank Coach Delaney and his staff."
Batten was a two-time All-MAAC selection, earning a First Team nod as a sophomore in 2015 and a Second Team selection as a junior in 2016. In 2016, he was also named to the NEIBA All-New England First Team and the ABCA/Rawlings Northeast All-Region First Team. As a sophomore in 2015, he put together a program-record 25-game hitting streak. As a freshman in 2014, Batten became just the second Quinnipiac player in the program's NCAA Division I history to record 50 hits in his first season.
"It's been a privilege to mentor Matt over the last four years," Delaney said." He's one of the most deserving student-athletes to be drafted in the Northeast. His leadership, ability and baseball knowledge made my job easier as a coach, and I know he will turn heads at the next level. It's an honor that is very well deserved - the Padres are lucky to draft Matt."
Quinnipiac Baseball All-Time Major League Baseball Draft Picks
"It's an indescribable feeling," Hitt said. "I'm so excited to become a part of the Brewers organization. It truly is a dream come true."
Hitt completed his junior season with the Bobcats in 2017, posting a 2-5 record with a with a 5.37 earned-run average after logging a team-high 58 2/3 innings on the mound. Hitt made 11 appearances for the Bobcats, including 10 starts. In seven starts against the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Hitt was 2-4 in seven weekend-series starts while striking out 36 across a team-leading 42 innings pitched.
"Robbie has been an important part of the foundation of our program for the last three years," Delaney said. "He's proven to be dominant and a pitcher that most hitters wouldn't want to face. I'm proud to see this young man take the next step forward in his career as a Brewer."
As a sophomore in 2016, Hitt led the team and broke the Quinnipiac single-season record with eight saves and finishes with 10 for his career. Hitt appeared in 24 games, including five starts. As a reliever, he posted a 2-0 record with a 2.24 ERA to go along with the record-breaking eight saves. In 32 1/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Bobcats, hit allowed just eight runs on 29 hits while striking out 26. His brilliant second season came after an outstanding freshman year in which he won a team-high six games while ranking second on the Bobcats' pitching staff with 49 strikeouts, 7.63 strikeouts per nine-innings pitched and ranked third with a 4.10 ERA.
For his career, Batten finished with program records in total hits (249) and stolen bases (65) while also tying Quinnipiac's Division I record for runs scored (139). In addition, he became the first player in Quinnipiac history to record 50 hits in all four seasons of his career and the 10th player in Quinnipiac's Division I history to drive in 100 runs in a career. Consequently, he is the only player in Quinnipiac history to college 240 hits, 130 runs and 100 runs scored.
"This is the best day of my baseball career," Batten said. "I can't thank all of my coaches, teammates and everyone involved at Quinnipiac that helped me along this path. I want to especially thank Coach Delaney and his staff."
Batten was a two-time All-MAAC selection, earning a First Team nod as a sophomore in 2015 and a Second Team selection as a junior in 2016. In 2016, he was also named to the NEIBA All-New England First Team and the ABCA/Rawlings Northeast All-Region First Team. As a sophomore in 2015, he put together a program-record 25-game hitting streak. As a freshman in 2014, Batten became just the second Quinnipiac player in the program's NCAA Division I history to record 50 hits in his first season.
"It's been a privilege to mentor Matt over the last four years," Delaney said." He's one of the most deserving student-athletes to be drafted in the Northeast. His leadership, ability and baseball knowledge made my job easier as a coach, and I know he will turn heads at the next level. It's an honor that is very well deserved - the Padres are lucky to draft Matt."
Quinnipiac Baseball All-Time Major League Baseball Draft Picks
| Year | Round | Overall | Team | Name | Position |
| 2017 | 32 | 948 | Padres | Matthew Batten | SS |
| 2017 | 24 | 714 | Brewers | Robbie Hitt | RHP |
| 2016 | 13 | 381 | Brewers | Thomas Jankins | RHP |
| 2009 | 17 | 507 | Giants | Chris Gloor | LHP |
| 2008 | 25 | 758 | Brewers | John Delaney | SS |
| 2008 | 39 | 1183 | Tigers | Chris Gloor | LHP |
| 2007 | 18 | 558 | Braves | Randy Gress | SS |
| 2006 | 36 | 1075 | Orioles | Pat Egan | RHP |
| 2005 | 9 | 263 | Mariners | Bryan Sabatella | 3B |
| 2005 | 26 | 773 | Mariners | Ari Kafka | RHP |
| 2005 | 35 | 1053 | Orioles | Pat Egan | RHP |
| 1998 | 46 | 1368 | Yankees | Jeff Carlson | RHP |
| 1993 | 55 | 1477 | Cubs | Steve Kulpa | SS |
| 1988 | 5 | 112 | Braves | Turk Wendell | RHP |
| 1988 | 22 | 566 | Reds | Doug Bond | 1B |
| 1988 | 32 | 831 | Twins | Dominick Rovasio | RHP |
| 1988 | 42 | 1082 | Reds | Brian Landy | LHP |
| 1984 | 14 | 345 | Reds | Francesco Trasacco | LHP |
| 1983 | 15 | 373 | Mariners | Bob Bruzik | SS |
| 1979 | 5 | 122 | Orioles | Gregory Burtt | OF |
| 1979 | 28 | 690 | Mariners | William Martin | RHP |
| 1974 | 2 | 42 | Red Sox | Ralph Russo | 1B |
| 1968 | 35 | 769 | Cardinals | Dan Ford | RHP |
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