NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University’s junior third baseman P.J. Higgins (Wallingford, CT.) has been selected in the 12th round (353 overall) by the Chicago Cubs.
Higgins led ODU in hitting and ranked 8th in Conference-USA with a .335 batting average. The second Team All-C-USA selection played third, but also played second and caught for the Monarchs this year. He hit two homers in a game at UTSA and was named C-USA Player of the Week on April 12. Higgins knocked in 5 RBI against Penn. He had 25 multiple-hit games, a 16-game hitting streak and at one stretch during the season reached base 25 straight games. Higgins struckout only 16 times and scored 40 times with 80 total hits which ranked second in C-USA.
PREVIOUS ODU TOP 12 ROUND MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Justin Verlander, RHP Detroit Tigers 2004 1st round (2nd overall)
Wayne Gomes, RHP Philadelphia Phillies 1993 1st round (4th overall)
Terry Bell - catcher Seattle Mariners 1983 1st round
Paul Mitchell, RHP Baltimore Orioles 1971 1st round
Jeff Ware, RHP Toronto Blue Jays 1991 Sandwich pick
Tim Hummel, SS Chicago White Sox 2000 2nd round
Fred Kovner, Inf. Chicago White Sox 1965 2nd round
Mark Wasinger, Inf San Diego Padres 1982 3rd round
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP Seattle mariners 2014 4t round
Donnie Smith, RHP St. Louis Cardinals 2004 4th round
Dan Hudson, RHP Chicago White Sox 2008 5th round
Stephen Lyons, RHP New York Mets 1992 4th round
Wiley Lee, Inf. California Angels 1987 5th round
Jason Godin, RHP Kansas City Royals 2006 5th round
Geoff Edsell, RHP California Angels 1993 6th round
Kevin Gibbs, CF Los Angeles Dodgers 1995 6th round
Mike Grohs RHP San Diego Padres 1991 6th round
John Mitcheltree, RHP Baltimore Orioles 1981 6th round
George Sells, LHP St. Louis Cardinals 1990 6th round
Denis McLaughlin, RHP Boston Red Sox 1994 7th round
Matt Quatraro, C Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1996 8th round
Ron Walker, RHP Chicago Cubs 1997 8th round
Anthony Shawler, RHP Detroit Tigers 2008 9th round
Ryan Williams, RHP Los Angeles Dodgers 2002 10th round
Ian Rauls, Philadelphia Philllies 1998 12th round
PJ HIGGINS STATISTICS AT ODU
Year GP/GS AB R H RBI 2b 3b HR BB SO BA SLUG OBPCT
2013 40/28 113 18 38 14 4 2 1 6 16 .336 .434 .380
2014 62/62 250 44 77 36 15 0 0 22 22 .308 .368 .382
2015 56/56 239 40 80 32 19 0 3 25 16 .335 .452 .402
TLS 158/146 602 102 195 82 38 2 4 53 54 .324 .414 381