With the 1st pick of the 22nd Round (669th overall), the Astros select 6'0" 165lb Kenny Long, a senior RHP out of Illinois State University, which MLB.com is kind enough to add, is in Illinois.
Long set the Illinois State record with 15 saves in 2011, breaking the old record of 12 saves, held by Jeremy Accardo. In 2012, he threw 41IP (leading the bullpen), with 24H/9ER, 42K:9BB, and a .166 batting average against (team-best). His 1.98 ERA was second on the team.
Baseball America previewed Long for the 2012 Roth Stars - named for the lesser-known prospects.
Skinny fifth-year senior touches 82 mph, but throws breaking balls from multiple slots and was 4-1, 0.92 with six saves last year.
He was College Baseball Daily's #78 player on their Top 100 Countdown at the end of 2010, and prior to the 2012 season was put on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association pre-season Stopper of the Year watch list.
Long will likely be happy with this selection, as he tweeted last night:
Tomorrow is going to be the longest day ever. Hopefully somebody gives me a chance. I don't want to stop playing
Here's some video:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
