Connecticut in the 2011 MLB Draft

The biggest Connecticut natives coming in to the draft were Matt Barnes from Bethel, CT and George Springer from New Britain, CT both of whom were Juniors at the University of Connecicut. The Lesser known name was Jason Esposito who is from Bethany, CT and is attending Vanderbilt.  Barnes was generally thought to go before Springer, but Houston picked Springer 11th overall by the Houston Astros and Barnes who was generally thought to be a top 10 pick was picked at 19th overall by the Boston Red Sox. Teams were likely scared off by his control issues despite a 1.12 ERA and 105K's in 111 innings and nobody thought Barnes would still be available when the Red Sox pick came around. Barnes is a Yankees fan  and apparently his favorite player is Joba Chamberlain, I don't know what it is with the Yankees and Red Sox picking players who are fans of the other tea,. ex. Hughes and Heathcott. Springer being picked 11th overall is actually the highest a UConn player or Connecticut native has been taken in the MLB Draft. Bethany Native Jason Esposito was thought to go in the supplemental 1st round, but he fell to the second round and was taken 64th overall by the Orioles. Nick Ahmed was selected by the Braves in the Second round, but no CT native was selected until Taylor Lewis was selected until CF Taylor Lewis was selected by the Pirates at 302 overall. The Yankees did not draft a single player from Connecticut and all but two of the 27 players taken were college players. Best of luck to you CT natives. I hope that next year the Yankees select CCSU Third Baseman Mitch Wells in the late rounds and possible Sophmore RHP Todd Savatsky in 2013.