In a matter of four years, Kyle Lewis went from running up-and-down a basketball court to being an 11th overall pick in the MLB draft.
After three seasons at Mercer, Lewis was drafted by the Seattle Mariners Thursday, becoming the highest-drafted baseball player in program history. The selection is 21 picks higher than Pat Creech, who was drafted 32nd overall by the Montreal Expos in 1973, according to Baseball-Reference.com.
Lewis joins a list of five other former Mercer players who are now apart of a major league organization, two of whom -- Billy Burns and Cory Gearrin -- are currently playing at the highest level for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants, respectively.
In three seasons, Lewis registered a .364 batting average with 39 home runs and 145 RBI. He was also named Baseball America's 2016 College Player of the Year, a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American, a two-time SoCon Player of the Year and the All-Star of the Cape Cod League.
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TWITTER REACTIONS:
Congrats my brother. Proud of you. Can't wait to watch you play in the Show @KLew_20 pic.twitter.com/nYxEQxNoAX
— Jose (@MUJosey) June 10, 2016
The @Mariners just got the next Ken Griffey! @KLew_20 #TheNextKid pic.twitter.com/FqCuDO2djh
— Brian Gerrity (@briangerrity) June 10, 2016
After the selection of Kyle Lewis I expect a celebratory nae-nae from every Mariners fan pic.twitter.com/M2ZiJEsgZ1
— Mark Switalski (@mswit24) June 10, 2016
With the 11th pick in the #MLBDraft the #Mariners choose Kyle Lewis OF from Mercer Collage pic.twitter.com/plvKePKSoD
— Alan Reed (@areedk5sports) June 10, 2016
Congratulations bro!!! You deserve this! #SeattleMariners pic.twitter.com/LkUJio0p4b
— Trey Truitt (@Ttruitt_9) June 10, 2016
#Mariners take OF Kyle Lewis. His fall ends. Think it's just because of competition level. Think he's a RF with 25+ HR upside. #MLBDraft
— Joe DeMayo (@PSLToFlushing) June 10, 2016
