DiChiara to start pro career in Rocket City

[aubiefifty 16,737]

Sports

Former Auburn slugger to start pro career in Rocket City

Published: Jul. 29, 2022, 8:40 p.m.

Auburn first baseman Sonny DiChiara connects for a single during an NCAA postseason game against Southeastern Louisiana on June, 3, 2022, in Auburn.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

By

Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com

Former Auburn slugger Sonny DiChiara will start his professional baseball career with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Los Angeles Angels’ Double-A affiliate announced on Friday.

The Angels selected DiChiara with the 148th pick in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft on July 18, and DiChiara joined the Los Angeles organization for a $172,500 signing bonus.

DiChiara heads to Madison after he became Auburn’s third SEC Player of the Year and sixth consensus All-American in his first season with the Tigers. The first baseman was one of college baseball’s top hitters in the 2022 season as he posted a .383 batting average, 59 runs, 22 home runs, 59 RBIs, 160 total bases, 68 walks, .777 slugging percentage and .549 on-base average to help Auburn reach the College World Series.

Before joining the Tigers, DiChiara played three seasons at Samford after his prep career at Hoover.

Like DiChiara, the other nine players from Alabama high schools and colleges who were chosen in the first 10 rounds of the draft have signed professional contracts. None of the 11 players with Alabama baseball roots selected after the 10th round has signed yet.

Each MLB team has until 4 p.m. CDT Monday to agree to terms with its draft choices, with some exceptions. A player who has completed his collegiate eligibility can sign until one week before the 2023 draft. High school and junior-college players picked after the 10th round who attend a two-year college after the draft can sign with their selecting teams for up to $250,000 until one week before the 2023 draft.

The 2022 draft choices from Alabama high schools and colleges who have signed with MLB organizations include:

· Tennessee outfielder Jordan Beck (Hazel Green High School), the No. 38 pick, with the Colorado Rockies for $2.2 million.

· Alabama pitcher Connor Prielipp, the No. 48 pick, with the Minnesota Twins for $1.83 million.

· Georgia Tech shortstop Chandler Simpson (UAB), the No. 70 pick, with the Tampa Bay Rays for $750,000.

· Auburn pitcher Blake Burkhalter (Northview High School in Dothan), the No. 76 pick, with the Atlanta Braves for $647,500.

· Auburn pitcher Mason Barnett, the No. 87 pick, with the Kansas City Royals for $697,500.

· Alabama pitcher Dylan Ray (Bob Jones High School in Madison), the No. 108 pick, with the Arizona Diamondbacks for $565,800.

· Auburn pitcher Trace Bright (Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery), the No. 137 pick, with the Baltimore Orioles for $400,000.

· Auburn first baseman Sonny DiChiara (Hoover High School, Samford), the No. 148 pick, with the Los Angeles Angels for $172,500.

· Arkansas pitcher Evan Taylor (Florence High School), the No. 262 pick, with the Miami Marlins for $140,000.

· Ole Miss pitcher Brandon Johnson (Brookwood High School), the No. 265 pick, with the Kansas City Royals for $47,500.

The 2022 draft picks with Alabama baseball roots who have not signed include:

· Auburn pitcher Carson Skipper (Hewitt-Trussville High School) drafted at No. 326 by the Colorado Rockies.

· Auburn pitcher Hayden Mullins drafted at No. 369 by the Boston Red Sox.

· Louisiana-Lafayette outfielder Tyler Robertson (St. James School in Montgomery, Shelton State) drafted at No. 420 by the San Diego Padres.

· Vanderbilt outfielder Javier Vaz (Huntsville High School) drafted at No. 445 by the Kansas City Royals.

· Auburn third baseman Blake Rambusch drafted at No. 456 by the Seattle Mariners.

· Next Level Academy (Wetumpka) pitcher JP Wheat drafted at No. 473 by the Chicago Cubs.

· Alabama pitcher Jacob McNairy (Athens High School) drafted at No. 486 by the Seattle Mariners.

· Tulane pitcher Tyler Hoffman (Mobile Christian School) drafted at No. 506 by the Colorado Rockies.

· Auburn shortstop Brody Moore (Oneonta High School) drafted at No. 517 by the St. Louis Cardinals.

· Alabama pitcher Garrett McMillan (Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Shelton State) drafted at No. 564 by the Minnesota Twins.

· Shelton State third baseman Drake Logan drafted at No. 581 by the Chicago White Sox.

Logan was one of five members of Alabama’s 2022 signing class who were drafted. Billings (Montana) Central Catholic High School pitcher Brock Blattner, drafted at No. 563 by the Chicago Cubs, also has not signed. But the other three players did:

· Pace (Florida) High School pitcher Walter Ford, the No. 74 pick, signed with the Seattle Mariners for $1.25 million.

· Northwest Florida State pitcher Jake Madden, the No. 118 pick, signed with the Los Angeles Angels for $997,500.

· Notre Dame Catholic School (Burlington, Ontario) shortstop Nate Ochoa, the No. 171 pick, signed with the Washington Nationals for $375,000.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

[Tigerbelle 5,299]

I hope people will show up to watch him play.

[AUFightingSoldiers 685]

46 minutes ago, Tigerbelle said:

I hope people will show up to watch him play.

Might have to make a trip myself!

[AUBwins 10,071]

Love it

[WVR 818]

I would like to thank Sonny for what he did for my great nephew, that is a patient at St Jude’s. After one of the players parents found out how big of a fan Colton was of Sonny’s, he ask him to sign a baseball and team picture and send to Colt. This brought so much joy to Colt. In return, Colt sent Sonny one of his St Jude’s bracelet’s with his name on it. As you can see in the pictures, Sonny is wearing Colts personalized bracelet in both pictures. He made this little boy so happy. 
Thank You Sonny for being a great person as well as a great ball player!!.

Edited August 3, 2022 by WVR

[Tigerbelle 5,299]

 

Might have to make a trip myself!

I mostly meant the locals. The Stars, which was the former Minor League team in Huntsville, always had trouble with attendance except on the 4th of July home games. That was because the fireworks after the game were very popular. And when Michael Jordan came through town it was sold out IIRC. I took my kids to a lot of weekend games, and it was always kind of empty.