Gaedele leads three former MSL draftees

Kyle Gaedele hoped this year would be the start toward something big.

The former baseball and basketball star from Rolling Meadows High School took a big step in that direction Tuesday afternoon.

The powerful and athletic Gaedele, who just finished his junior season at Valparaiso University, was chosen by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.

“My mindset was I wanted to start my career after this year,” Gaedele said. “I've always wanted to play major league baseball and this is probably one of the best opportunities I can have come around.

“I'm ready for it. I'm pretty sure (I'll sign).”

Two other former Mid-Suburban League standouts were selected in the draft's second day of rounds two through 30.

Conant product and Mississippi junior left-handed pitcher Austin Wright was chosen in the eighth round by the Philadelphia Phillies. Buffalo Grove product and Eastern Illinois outfielder Zach Borenstein was taken in the 23rd round by the Los Angeles Angels.

Today is the final day of the draft with rounds 31 through 50. After Gaedele's senior year at Meadows in 2008, he was taken in the 32nd round by the Tampa Bay Rays but opted to attend Valparaiso.

This year, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Gaedele played right field and hit .312 with 7 homers, 17 doubles and 39 RBI. He stole 23 bases in 27 attempts as Valparaiso recovered from a rough start to make the Horizon League championship game.

As a sophomore Gaedele hit .373 with 7 homers, 8 triples, 19 doubles and 63 RBI and he wasn't caught stealing in 17 attempts.

And he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Valpo head coach Tracy Woodson and assistant coach Brian Schmack. Woodson played for the 1988 World Series champion Dodgers in his five-year big-league career and Schmack, who also went to Rolling Meadows, pitched for the Tigers in 2003.

“I thank Valparaiso and coach Woodson and coach Schmack for getting me ready for this point in my career,” Gaedele said. “Going to Valparaiso was probably the best decision I could have made in getting me ready.”

Gaedele also showed he could handle wood bats last summer when he played for the Madison Mallards in the collegiate Northwoods League. He made the all-star team and hit .315 with 9 homers and 38 RBI and 26 steals.

“I definitely think that was a big confidence booster,” Gaedele said. “I think that summer is what got me drafted. A lot of people had a lot of problems in the spring with the new (aluminum) bats.”

Gaedele said he wasn't surprised to be chosen early Tuesday. He said he talked to his adviser and plans to relax for a couple of days before getting everything squared away toward the start of his dream.

It was a dream Gaedele's great uncle Eddie Gaedel realized in 1951 — albeit as one of legendary owner Bill Veeck's best promotions. He used the 3-foot-7 Gaedel as a pinch hitter for the St. Louis Browns and he walked on four pitches in his only appearance.

Gaedele has his sights on a much longer career.

“I was fortunate San Diego likes me enough to take me in the sixth round,” Gaedele said. “They have a big park (Petco Park) and a big outfield and the Padres like athletic outfielders.”

This is the third time the hard-throwing Wright has been drafted. He was picked twice in the 23rd round — by the Pirates after his senior year at Conant in 2008 and by the Red Sox last year after he played at Chipola College in Florida.

The 6-4, 234-pound Wright led Ole Miss in strikeouts this year with 67 in 70⅓ innings and had only 25 walks. He went 5-4 with a 4.73 ERA.

Borenstein helped lead Buffalo Grove to the Elite Eight in 2007 as a junior and was an all-Ohio Valley Conference selection for the second time in three years at Eastern Illinois. The lefty-hitting Borenstein hit .349 with 13 doubles, 7 homers and 29 RBI and played primarily in the outfield.

Last year Borenstein was at third base and hit .353 with 11 homers and 47 RBI and he hit .394 with 5 homers and 28 RBI as a freshman. Borenstein is currently playing for Mankato (Minn.) in the Northwoods League.

New Trier senior outfielder Charlie Tilson was taken by the Cardinals in the second round with the 79th pick overall.