Top Stories of 2015: #1 - Nikorak Selected in First Round of MLB First-Year Player Draft
December 31, 2015
By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting
When the Colorado Rockies called his name with the 27th overall selection, Stroudsburg right-handed pitcher Mike Nikorak became the first Pennsylvania prep to be drafted in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft since Germantown Friends left-handed pitcher Jesse Biddle went with the same pick to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010.
Nikorak, who had previously signed a National Letter-of-Intent with Alabama, received a $2,300,000 signing bonus from the Rockies, who assigned him to Grand Junction in the rookie-level Pioneer League. He scuffled in his debut season, not uncommon for a pitcher from the northern part of the country, especially when he is facing a decent number of older hitters coming out of college. At his best, the athletic 6-foot-5, 205-pound Nikorak, who was a two-year starting quarterback for the Mountaineers before hanging up his shoulder pads as a senior, works with a low- to mid-90s fastball and two quality secondary pitches.
Related News
- Most Viewed Player Profiles of 2015: No. 1 Mike Nikorak - Dec 21, 2015
- Pennsylvania Players Selected in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft - Jun 11, 2015
- 2015 Draft: Final Thoughts - Jun 11, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
- 2015 Draft: First Day Thoughts - Jun 9, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
- Final 2015 Overall Rankings Released - Jun 5, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
- 2015 National Top 50 - Jun 3, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
- Pennsylvania Draft Preview - Jun 3, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
- The Hotlist: 2015 Draft Superlatives - May 20, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
- 2015 Draft Blog - May 17, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
- The Rode Show: Nikorak Strikes Out 10 - Apr 28, 2015 (PBRPLUS)
Previous Top 10 Stories of 2015
#2 - Loyalsock Represents PA at the National High School Invitational
#3 - Connor Ollio Makes USA Baseball 15U National Team
#4 - PIAA Announces Expansion to Six Classes
#5 - North Penn Continues Dominance in PIAA Class 4A
#6 - Neshannonck Spoils East PA Party in PIAA Class 2A
#7 - Knoch and Lancaster County Christian Win First State Titles in School History
#8 - PA Class of 2016 Prospects Emerge as Potential High-Round Picks
#9 - PBR Future Games Team PA Members Commit
#10 - Long-tenured Coaches Say Goodbye
