Three KU baseball signees drafted

Three Kansas University baseball signees were drafted this week by major-league organizations in the first-year player draft.

Infielder Thomas Mirabelli (Pittsburgh, 28th round), right-handed pitcher Hayden Edwards (Kansas City, 31st round) and left-handed pitcher Tyler Watson (Washington, 37th round) were selected Wednesday on the final day of the draft.

All three players have until July 13 to sign with the club which drafted them, otherwise they will enroll at KU and play for the Jayhawks beginning in 2013.

Mirabelli, a 5-foot-8 infielder from Rocky River, Ohio, was named Northeast Ohio Rookie of the Year in 2010, helping St. Edwards High School to a state championship. He hit .450 last year as a senior and batted over .400 for his high school career. He is the son of Cleveland Indians Vice President John Mirabelli. He was selected with the 856th overall pick by the Pirates.

Edwards, a 6-foot-9 right-handed pitcher from Shawnee Mission, was the No. 1-ranked high school player in the state according to Perfect Game USA. As a junior, Edwards earned all-state honors in both baseball and football, helping Blue Valley High School to the 2010 5A state football championship. Edwards led Blue Valley to a state runner up finish last month in the 5A baseball championship. He was drafted by his hometown Royals with the 943rd overall selection.

Watson, a 6-foot left-handed pitcher from Georgetown, Texas, was also a two-sport star in high school, earning all-state honors as a pitcher for the baseball team and as a kicker for the Georgetown High football team. He pitched for the Premier Baseball national champions this past summer, posting a 7-1 record on the mound and started the championship game for the D-Bat Mustangs. Tyler’s father, Gene Watson, is also the Coordinator of Professional Scouting with the Kansas City Royals. He was drafted with the 1,134th overall pick by the Nationals.

While he has until July, Watson said he has already made up his mind and plans to play at KU next season.

“I really got along well with the coaching staff when I went on my visit,” he said. “I love coach Price and I can’t wait to play for him.”