Wallace State catcher Andrew Dennis selected by Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend in 37th round of 2013 MLB First Year Player Draft

HANCEVILLE – Wallace State sophomore catcher Andrew Dennis was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 37^th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft over the weekend, marking the second consecutive year a Lion was selected.
Dennis hardly missed a start behind the plate during his Wallace State career. The Huntsville High grad hit .315 this season with 25 RBIs, earning him a spot on the ACCC All-North Division second team as the Lions finished 29-23-1. As a freshman in 2012, Dennis hit a team-high .368 with 24 RBIs, helping Wallace State win a share of the ACCC regular season North Division title and finish runner-up at the state tournament.
“Andrew (Dennis) is a very talented catcher and is a run producer. He has the ability to possibly catch in the big leagues one day,” said Wallace State coach Randy Putman. “I’m proud the Pirates liked Andrew enough to draft him. It’s always an accomplishment to get drafted. He continues the tradition and string of players to get drafted out of Wallace State. He’ll now have an important decision to make.”
Dennis, selected 1109^th overall, has signed to play with UAB next season if he forgoes the opportunity to play for the Pirates organization.
Dennis joins right-hander Bret Marks as the last two Wallace State players to be drafted since Craig Kimbrel was a third round selection of the Atlanta Braves in 2008. Marks was a 22^nd round selection of the New York Yankees last June, but elected to return to Wallace State for his sophomore season and was named the 2013 ACCC North Pitcher of the Year. Marks has committed to play at Tennessee next season. Along with Dennis and Marks, three former Wallace State players were drafted in 2011 and the program currently has two players, Kimbrel and Derek Holland, on major league rosters, two in Triple-A, Graham Godfrey and Jake Elmore, and four others in the minor leagues.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.