 A disciplined hitter, Chisenhall batted .410 for PCC and struck out just eight times all season. |
WINTERVILLE�Following a season in which he batted .410 and helped Pitt Community College reach the NJCAA Eastern District Championship, the Cleveland Indians made Bulldogs infielder Lonnie Chisenhall the 29th pick of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday. "This was the best player available," Indians director of scouting Brad Grant told MLB.com. "Lonnie's been a guy that we've had targeted from the beginning. Picking at 29, it's really difficult to know who's going to be there. There were no surprises above him, [and] he was the best talent on the board at 29." PCC Baseball Coach Tommy Eason said he was almost at a loss for words knowing Chisenhall had been chosen in the first round. �There�s only 30 first-round draft picks and for him to be one was phenomenal,� he said. In Chisenhall, the Indians get a sensational left-handed hitter with a tremendous eye at the plate. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, who throws right, posted a .528 on-base percentage in 2008 and was named NJCAA All-District and an All-Region X First Team performer. In 53 games for PCC, the Newport native went 68-for-166, notched 68 runs batted in, scored 58 runs, drew 38 walks and struck out just eight times. Of his 68 hits, 27 went for doubles, four were triples and eight left the yard altogether. Chisenhall, who went 10-for-10 in the stolen base department, proved to be a reliable fielder at third base and shortstop for Pitt. Though he had 18 errors, he recorded a .907 fielding percentage on the year, which included 58 put outs and 118 assists. In 10 relief appearances for the Bulldogs, Chisenhall recorded a team-high seven saves and struck out 13 batters in just eight innings of work. �Lonnie�s well-deserving of all of the accolades,� Eason said. �He�s worked hard at it, and I�m sure he�s going to continue to work hard at it to live up to the expectations of a first-round draft pick.� Chisenhall transferred to PCC after playing his freshman season at the University of South Carolina. As a sophomore at PCC, he showcased the talent that made him an 11th-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates coming out of West Carteret High School in 2006. Instead of signing with the Pirates, Chisenhall enrolled at USC and earned SEC Player of the Week honors as a freshman before he and a teammate were dismissed from the team for an off-field incident involving burglary and larceny charges. It was a mistake many who know him say was completely out of character for Chisenhall and one he has apologized for sincerely. "We truly believe it was a one time mistake, he was in the wrong spot at the wrong time," Grant told MLB.com. "We believe he's learned from it and moved on. At 19 [years old], he has two years of college experience, and with that incident, a lot of maturity." Being chosen by Cleveland means there is a chance Chisenhall could play close to home with Kinston, the Indians� Single-A Minor League affiliate. Should he reach the Majors, Chisenhall would become the second big leaguer to come out of PCC, joining Baltimore Orioles shortstop Freddie Bynum, who starred for the Bulldogs in 1999 and 2000. Eason, who did not coach Bynum at Pitt, called Chisenhall a �prime example of the structure� the PCC baseball program provides players to help them achieve their goals. �Not every player has the same talents and abilities, but we�re very demanding of all of the kids to get better,� Eason said. �We work them hard during practices to prepare them for the next level, whether it�s moving on to a four-year college or the pros.�
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