Hawks In The Pros

The Quincy University baseball team has had a long and successful history of being a starting point for future professional baseball players.Quincy has shad a total of 24 players drafted or play in the professional ranks. In fact 2006 proved to be an historical one for Quincy University. For the first time in school history Quincy had two former baseball players playing in the major leagues at the same time. In addition Quincy boasts of being the only NCAA Division II program to have two players on a major league active roster at the same time.

Fromer Hawks, pitcher Josh Kinney and outfielder Josh Rabe, each made their major league debuts in 2006. Kinney, a relief pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, was first called up in July before being re-called in September and playing a pivitol role in the Cardinals bullpen during the playoffs and their run to a World Series Championship. Kinney finished the 2006 playoffs with a 1-0 record and a 0.00 earned-run average with four strikeouts in three apperances.

Rabe, an outfielder, made his debut with the Minnesota Twin on July 17, 2006. In 24 games with the Twins, Rabe hit .286 with three home runs and seven runs batted in. Rabe recorded his first career hit on July 18 when he singled against Tampa Bay. His first major league home run came off Nate Robertson on July 29 against Detroit.

The Hawks also continued their recent trend of advancing players into the major league draft with pitcher Brad Stone being selected in the 12th round of the 2006 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins. Since 1997 the Hawks have had four players drafted and eight total players play with a major league affiliated team. In addition to Rabe and Stone, Jason Rakers was drafted in the 34th round of the 1997 draft by the San Diego Padres and Kevin Reynolds was drafted in the 41st round of the 2006 draft by the Seattle Mariners.

Players that have signed as free agents with major league teams over that span include Josh Kinney, Don Lichay, Brandon DeJaynes and Kevin Sewell.