The Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team has had a unprecedented number of former Huskers playing in Major League Baseball this season and it seems in the next few years, they’ll be joined by at least one more.
That’s because NU catcher Josh Caron was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of this year’s MLB draft. Now it’s up to Caron to prove his drastic improvement at the plate this season can be continued and that it was indeed improvement rather than a fluke.
If the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ catcher does keep improving, it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility that he’ll be in the bigs in just a few years. After Monday night, his journey officially started.
Nebraska Cornhuskers star is headed to the Seattle Mariners
Josh Caron became the first Husker taken in the MLB draft, going in the fourth round and No. 121 overall to the Seattle Mariners. The big-bodied backstop who turns 21 next month is the second highest-drafted NU catcher ever behind only Bill McGuire (27th overall in 1985).
Why he was taken so high is hardly surprising considering Only 12 catchers in college baseball hit more than his 16 home runs this season. That power, paired with a .308 batting average and 65 RBIs in 60 games clearly impressed the AL West team.
“Definitely a moment I’ll never forget,” Caron told the Omaha World-Herald. “My heart sank and I was shaking. It was crazy. I’m at a loss for words. I couldn’t be happier for how this all went and happier for the opportunity.”
“I know they kind of are looking for some new catching talent and I’m hoping to be their guy,” Caron said. “I think it’s going to be a great fit.”
Now it’s time for the Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball star to show what he can do. And hopefully move up the ladder quickly.