Calvin Graves Selected by Chicago Cubs on Third Day of MLB Draft
Senior caps career with chance to play professional baseball
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The Ravens' leadoff hitter each of the last two seasons, Graves
will now get a chance to ply his trade in professional
baseball.RINDGE, N.H. (June 7, 2014) -- Senior center fielder Calvin Graves (Boston, Mass.) was selected on Saturday afternoon by the Chicago Cubs in the 27th round (799 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Graves will likely report to either the Cubs' Rookie-level affiliate, the Arizona Cubs of the Arizona League, or their Class A short-season affiliate, the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League.
Franklin Pierce has now had 26 draft selections in program history, beginning with Justin Blood in 2001. Since that first selection, only Boston College (41) and Connecticut (40) have had more draftees among New England schools, regardless of division. The Ravens have now had players selected in 13 of the last 14 MLB Drafts, with 2012 being the lone empty year since Blood's selection in 2001.
In becoming the 26th draft pick in school history, Graves became the third Franklin Pierce player drafted by the Cubs. Just last summer, the North Siders selected Trevor Graham in the 13th round (378 overall). Previously, the Cubs selected Elliot Shea in the 45th round (1,346 overall) in 2006. Shea never played affiliated ball in the Cubs' system, while Graham is currently in his first full professional season, pitching for Chicago's Class A Advanced, Florida State League affiliate, the Daytona Cubs.
"Another childhood dream came true today and we are so proud of the work ethic and determination Calvin showed throughout his career," said head coach Jayson King. "He will make the Cubs' organization better both on and off the field, as he is a first-class person and teammate."
Graves earned ABCA All-East Region Second Team and All-Northeast-10 First Team honors earlier this spring, in addition to an NEIBA All-Star selection. He started all 53 games for the Ravens, including 52 starts in center field, after starting all 56 contests a year ago. Graves put together a .319/.380/.386 slash line out of the leadoff hole for Franklin Pierce and finished the season ranked 18th in the country in stolen bases (31) and 27th in stolen bases per game (0.58). Among Northeast-10 leaders, he finished the season third in stolen bases (32-for-40, 80%), fourth in hits (67), tied for eighth in runs scored (38), 15th in batting average and 27th in on-base percentage. Graves hit his first collegiate home run, in the 178th game of his career, on April 12 against Merrimack.
In a fun bit of frivolity, Graves can now say he was drafted ahead of Texas A&M football star Johnny Manziel, who was taken in the 28th round on Saturday by the San Diego Padres, though he has not played baseball since high school.
The Ravens finished the 2014 campaign at 35-18 after being bounced on the second day of the NCAA East Regional. Franklin Pierce made its 10th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, an active streak matched by only two other Division II schools (Grand Valley State, Tampa) and 14 other programs across all divisions. The team reached 35 wins for the ninth straight season and captured a share of its third straight Northeast-10 Northeast Division title along the way.
For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).