Two Former EIU Players Selected In MLB Draft

Following two current Eastern Illinois baseball players being selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday, a former Panther recently moved closer to a possible Major League debut.  Former EIU pitcher Jake Haberer was recently promoted to the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Haberer opened the season pitching for the Modesto Nuts in the Class A California League.  He had a 3-1 record with one save and 34 strikeouts while posting a 3.74 earned run average.  The hard throwing righthander has made two appearances with Tacoma out of the bullpen in recent days.

Former Panther Zach Borenstein opened the year playing for the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.  The nine-year pro, was released in late April and signed to play with the Sugar Land Skeeters in the Atlantic League, an Independent Professional Baseball League.

Matt Wivinis is currently pitching in the New York Yankees organization with the Tampa Yankees in the Class A Florida State League.   Wivinis has appeared in six games with one save.  He has also pitched this season for the Double-A affiliate in Trenton.

Joe Duncan is in his second year playing for the Southern Illinois Miners, a member of the Frontier League, an Independent Professional Baseball League.  Duncan has started all 22 games this season and is currently second on the team in RBI.

Pitcher Michael McCormick pitched last season for the Chicago White Sox’s Pioneer League team in Great Falls, Montana.  This season McCormick has pitched for the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the American Association, an Independent Professional Baseball League.