West Chester's Wendle Follows Up Title With Draft
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It has been quite a week for West Chester University senior second baseman Joe Wendle.
After helping lead the Golden Rams to a National Championship at the Division II College World Series over the weekend, Wendle was selected in the 6th round of the MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians.
"This week has been absolutely awesome," Wendle tells KYW Newsradio. "Two dreams come true in a week. I couldn't ask for anything more."
A left-handed hitter, Wendle was the 203rd overall selection in the draft after a senior season which saw him hit .399 with 12 home runs and 59 runs batted in. He is the highest drafted West Chester baseball player since former Phillie John Mabry was selected in the 6th round (155th overall) back in 1991.
How did the Avon Grove High School product learn it was the Indians that chose him?
"I was following (the draft) online and then I was just a little bit nervous there so I decided to go fishing with a couple of my buddies and they had it up on their IPhones. So we were keeping track that way and I was also able to relieve a little stress through fishing and what not."
Wendle is one of the greatest players in West Chester history. He made more than one All-America first-team as a senior and he says his time with the Golden Rams was very well spent.
"At West Chester I was just able to mature mentally, physically and I was able to just grow as a person there as well. That obviously just helped me for the draft, helped me in a lot of things. There are so many wonderful people at West Chester that were able to help me out. All three coaches that I had, all of my teammates and everybody just were hugely influential in my life and I wouldn't have done it any other way."
Wendle is the 28th West Chester player ever to be selected in the MLB Draft.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
