#TCCBaseball’s Leontarakis drafted by Orioles
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (June 16, 2017) – Major League Baseball's annual First-year Player Draft has a knack for making even the biggest dreams become a reality.
That's exactly what happened on Wednesday for Tallahassee Community College freshman pitcher Niko Leontarakis.
Leontarakis, a native of Weston, Fla., was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 40th and final round – the 1208th pick overall.
"I was really honored to be drafted," said Leontarakis. "It's a very humbling experience, and I'm going to continue to work hard so that I can succeed at the next level."
A six-foot-four right-hander, Leontarakis transferred to Tallahassee from New Jersey Tech prior to the start of the spring term and appeared in ten games with the Eagles in 2017, posting a 1-1 record over 16 innings of work.
While Leontarakis was the only current Eagle drafted, he was not the only player with Tallahassee ties selected in 2017.
Former Eagle and current Florida State University standout Quincy Nieporte (TCC '14) was first off the board, going in the 26th round to the Philadelphia Phillies. Eight rounds later, it was another former Eagle, current University of Tampa standout Ricky Negron, who was drafted in round 34 by the Atlanta Braves.