Now, Joe Bonadonna has found a second life in the Northwoods League.  Though league rules prevented Bonadonna from going back to the Huskies, there was nothing preventing another NWL team from picking the talented secondbaseman.  And that’s exactly what the Madison Mallards have done. 

Bonadonna has been with Madison for three games now and is off to a decent start.  So far, he’s 3 for 10 with 3 walks in those three games.  The Mallards are batting Bonadonna second in the lineup. 

Bonadonna has quite a legacy at Duluth and unfortunately, his departure from the Huskies has evoked some bitter feelings among a few of the fans who feel he left them high and dry.  Madison’s two game series in Duluth next week should be interesting for Bonadonna.

Hudson off to a good start with the Aberdeen Ironbirds

The 2008 Illini draftees have made a good impression so far in the minors. If the first couple weeks are any indication, they are in the pros for a while. 

Former Illini and All-Big Ten centerfielder Kyle Hudson is at the Orioles’ A farm team in Aberdeen.  He’s already off to hot start.  He’s hitting .280 (7 for 33) with 5 rbis with 7 walks.  As he did with Illinois, Kyle is playing centerfield. 

Scott Shaw, who was drafted by the Mets, is spending time with the Brooklyn Cyclones.  In two starts and one relief, he’s allowed two just runs in 14 innings.  In those 14 innings, Shaw’s KOed 18 batters.

Interestingly, one appearance (the relief in which Shaw got the win) was against Hudson’s team, the Aberdeen Ironbirds, but Shaw didn’t have the pleasure of facing off against his old teammate. 

Finally, for those who remember the Illini from before this year, Tanner Roark was a All-Big Ten second team starting pitcher in 2007.  Thanks to Tanner, we won the first game in the 2007 Big Ten Tournament against Iowa.  Well, Roark was declared ineligible in 2008 because of his academics. 

That didn’t stop the Texas Rangers from taking a flier on Tanner in this year’s draft.  And so far, he’s looking pretty good in the Rangers’ team in the Rookie League in the Arizona League.  Roark has been put in the role as reliever in three games.  While three games and five innings is a small sample size, he hasn’t allowed a run yet and has struck out six batters while walking no one. 

Good luck to all!

The Assumption High School (Davenport, IA) product says that “it’s about 100 percent” that he’ll be wearing the orange and blues. 

Good news for us Illini fans.  No doubt though, Argo will have his time in sun.  At one time or another, he will see some pro baseball in the future. 

See you in 2009, Willie!

Some news regarding Illini draftees:

It came out today that Illinois CF Kyle Hudson who went early, the fourth round, has reached a contract agreement with the Baltimore Orioles.  He plans to play for their Class A team in Aberdeen, MD by next week.

Illini hurler Scott Shaw, drafted by the New York Mets in the 13th round, has signed a contract with them complete with a $30,000 signing bonus.

Tanner Roark who started for the Illini until he was forced off the team this year because of academic ineligibilty, was signed by the Texas Rangers.  The Rangers drafted Roark in the 25th round.

Congrats to all three!

The upshot of the story:  Bonadonna was so disappointed about not being selected in last week’s baseball draft that he signed his release waiver from the Huskies. 

Apparently, his coaches told him to sleep on it but Bonadonna was adamant. 

Bonadonna has been with the Duluth Huskies for four years.  Not only has been one their best players having broken a few team career records but arguably has been one of their most popular.  It was with the Huskies last summer when Bonadonna caught fire.  He won multiple NWL awards that season.  He never slowed down when he came back to the University of Illinois when he had a breakout year in the Big Ten.

Bonadonna already regrets his decision. 

“I definitely wish I would have been made inactive for a couple weeks to clear my mind, but I wasn’t thinking anything about that at the time,” Bonadonna said. “Now I can’t come back, and that’s too bad because I already miss the guys.”

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that can be done.  According to league rules, once the waiver is signed and turned in,  Bonadonna cannot return to play for the Huskies for this season. 

“Once that waiver gets sent to the league office, the wheels have already been put into motion,” (Duluth Huskies GM Craig) Smith said. “You can’t just make a phone call and make it go away. Some wars you fight and some you don’t. We’d love to have Joe here, but we don’t want to ask the league president to make a decision that likely wouldn’t go our way anyway. The rules are the rules and we’re going to live by the decision Joe made.”

Bonadonna made a rash decision and he will have to pay for it, there’s no doubt about it.  Joe’s been one of my favorite players and I have no doubt that somehow he’ll get back on his feet and get on track.  He’s too good of a ballplayer. 

I’m two states away and don’t know all of the details.  That said, it’s my feeling that the Huskies’ management could have taken his signed release waiver and sat on it until Bonadonna was thinking straight.  Then just tore it up. 

Good luck to Joey B. 

Thanks to Andrew from Summer Ball for pointing me to the story. 

Collegiate Baseball selected Illinois outfielder Casey McMurray as a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.  McMurray hit .331 for the season and was tied for the team lead in doubles with 12.  In addition, Mac was named Big Ten Player of the Week on April 28. 

He started 48 games all in left field though he led off at least once. 

You will find McMurray out west now.  He’s playing for Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League. 

Congrats, Casey!

Shaw facing off against Michigan at the 2008 Big Ten Tournament

The scouts must have been paying attention during the Illinois-Michigan game at the Big Ten Tournament because Illinois pitcher Scott Shaw was chosen #404th overall in Friday’s MLB’s first-year player draft.  Though Shaw lost that Michigan game, he pitched a heck of game. 

Shaw was chosen by the New York Mets with the pick and was the second Illini picked in this year’s draft.  CF Kyle Hudson was picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the 4th round during the first day of the day. 

Roark (right) with one of 2007’s Illini draftees, Lars Davis after their only 2007 Big Ten Tournament win

Also of Illini note, former pitcher Tanner Roark was selected by Texas.  Roark was set to be Illinois’ top starter this year but was dropped from the team due to academic ineligibility.  He was picked #753 overall. 

Congrats to both of them.

Big Ten Hardball has the full list of all Big Ten players who were drafted from Day 1 and Day 2. 

Hudson went in the 4th round today

Before I get on to the overall draft, I want to extend congratulations to University of Illinois CF Kyle Hudson.  He was chosen 116th overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of today’s baseball draft. 

As a junior, I guess the ball is in his court as to whether he signs or continues with the Illini.  That said, with this high of a pick, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Kyle in the Orioles’ farm system soon. 

Congratulations to Hud and his family!

Purdue’s Josh Lindblom was the highest Big Ten player picked today.  He was chosen #61 overall by the Dodgers.  Also picked from the Big Ten was Penn State’s Drew O’Neil (#120 by the White Sox), Purdue’s Ryne White (#138 by the Dbacks), Michigan’s Jason Christian (#154 by Oakland), Michigan’s Zach Putnam (#171 by the Indians) and J.B. Shuck (#182 by the Astros).  

Speed is one of Hudson’s assets. 

University of Illinois CF Kyle Hudson will be watching draft day intently tomorrow.  No doubt, he’ll be snatched up by the time everything’s done.  Where he goes is anyone’s guess but some say he may go as high as the 3rd round. 

Hudson ended the 2008 campaign with 40 steals and a.398 batting average.  It may be his .498 OBP that looks good to scouts though.

The local college rag, The Daily Illini, had a nice feature article on Hud.  One thing I didn’t know about him… he’s a Cubs fan.  Awesome!

U. Illinois’ Hudson awaits pro chance at MLB draft- The Daily Illini via Big Ten Network

Twenty-four Illini are dispersing throughout the country and playing in a number of collegiate summer leagues out there.  Some of the Illini league favorites are among them.  The Northwoods League up north will be taking on nine of our Illini.  The Coastal Plain League in the southeast will have five. 

Some summer leagues are close to home, too.  This includes the Central Illinois Collegiate League and the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.

The Illini baseball page has a handy web page with a list of leagues and teams and where our players are headed this summer. 

Also, check out Summer Ball which is a blog dedicated to college summer leagues. 

Good Luck Illini!!