Baseball players who graduated from local schools were taken in last month’s MLB amateur draft, the first step of fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing in the pros.
University of Miami and former Mater Academy outfielder Willie Abreu was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the sixth round of the draft.
As a junior, Abreu registered a .283 batting average, 127 hits, 75 RBI and seven home runs.
He was named to the 2016 Coral Gables Regional All-Tournament Team, All-ACC Third Team in 2016, 2015, and 2014.
At Mater Academy, Abreu ranked No. 66 in the nation, named Rawlings Preseason All-American prior to his senior season, where he led the Lions in batting average with .513, 34 runs, four triples and six dingers.
He earned The Miami Herald’s First Team All-Dade recognition his senior year and was selected to play in the 2012 Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.