Three get chance with MLB

Though only one was drafted, three former Tigers have made the jump to professional baseball this year. 

Closer Josh Squatrito was drafted in the 25th round by the St. Louis Cardinals and second baseman Gary Helmick and catcher Jason Stifler were offered contracts post-draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

Squatrito, who is now with the Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League, said that being drafted was an emotional experience.

“Honestly, I was in tears with the rest of my family. I’ve wanted this for so long and it happened and it was a great feeling,” he said.

Helmick was also emotional at the draft results, but not for the same reason.

“I was kind of disappointed, because obviously I didn’t get drafted. I thought I had a pretty good shot. All the teams that had contacted me sounded pretty confident that one of them was going to pick me up,” he said. “I was just anxious, and when it didn’t happen… I was just trying to cope with it.”

Immediately after the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft ended, Helmick and Stifler got calls from the Baltimore Orioles, offering them contracts. 

Helmick did a mini-camp in Florida and is now playing with the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League. 

Stifler was sent to the Aberdeen Ironbirds of the New York-Penn League.

Helmick said that despite the initial disappointment at not being picked in the draft, he’s happy with the final outcome.

“I got the same amount of money that I would have gotten if I was drafted in any other round. I’m in the same situation that I’d be in if I had been drafted. I’m glad it worked out with the Orioles, because they’re my hometown team and all of the farm teams are pretty close to home, except for Florida,” Helmick said. “I’m really happy with it.”

All three players made impressions on scouts during their time at Towson.

Helmick led the Colonial Athletic Association in batting average, finishing the 2009 season at .430. He holds Towson’s single-season record for hits with 98 and the record for runs at 72. On March 13, he became only the fourth player in Towson history to hit for the cycle. 

Stifler ended his senior year behind the plate with a .266 batting average with 12 home runs and 44 RBI. He was also named CAA Player of the Week in March. 

Squatrito set Towson records in his two years with the team for saves in a season and career saves, at 10 and 17, respectively. 

In his career with the Tigers, Squatrito posted a 7-7 record with 111 strikeouts.

With Squatrito, Stifler and Helmick going pro, they join three other former Tigers in the minors. Casper Wells is currently playing in Detroit’s farm system with the Erie Seawolves and is on the 40-man roster for the Tigers, Shane Justis is in the Los Angelos Dodgers’ program with the Huntsville Stars and Brian Conley was drafted last year by the Orioles and is currently with the Delmarva Shorebirds.