Two former North Stars selected in MLB draft
St. Charles North baseball coach Todd Genke has a unique perspective when it comes to the Major League Baseball draft.
A former 22nd round pick by the Phillies in 1993, Genke knows first hand what a thrill it is to be picked. And he also knows there's a game within the game about whether to sign with the team that picked you or play college baseball.
Two of his former St. Charles North baseball players were selected Wednesday in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.
In the 12th round with the 376th overall pick, Milwaukee took 2004 grad Rob Currie. Eleven rounds later, 2008 graduate Danny Jimenez was selected by the Cleveland Indians. Both are pitchers.
"I'm excited," Genke said. "I knew about Danny but for Rob to go in the 12th round, that's just fantastic. It's a true Cinderella story. I knew he had untapped potential when he left here."
After graduating from St. Charles North, Currie returned for several summers to help with Genke's summer camp. Currie played two years at Elgin Community College and then moved onto Tusculum, a Division I school in South Carolina.
Curre is now 6-foot-6, 230 pounds. He was the ace of the Tusculum bullpen, selected as the 2009 All-South Atlantic Conference first team relief pitcher. He made 21 appearances and posted a 5-1 record with a 1.21 ERA to go along with 6 saves.
"The higher you are drafted, the more they stick with you, there's a little more money," Genke said.
Jimenez compiled a 6-2 record with a 2.02 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings at Logan Community College. He'll have a tougher decision on whether to enter the draft or play another year of college and hope to move up several rounds.
Jimenez was the 695th overall pick in the 23rd round. Genke said he was looking forward to talking to the family and Jimenez and offering his advice from his experiences in professional baseball.
"It's like a card game," Genke said. "You want to keep it close to the vest. I think if he stays he could go higher, but there's always the injury concern."
Genke played in the Phillies system for three years and two more years with the Colorado Rockies before spending three years with the Schaumburg Flyers. Shoulder surgery in 1995 derailed his career.
"Getting paid to play baseball, they pay you to run on the field, that's a thrill," Genke said. "I got to travel all over the country. Now for me it's even more exciting as a coach to see former players have that chance.
"That's what it is all about," Genke said. "You want to develop players and get as many through to the next level. We've been blessed to have several go on to college and now to have some drafted is very exciting."