Considering there are currently no active teams on the Northeastern campus, it’s been a pretty good month for Husky baseball. Eight former Huskies are playing on baseball diamonds across the country for various Major League organizations led by the most recent draftee Dan Milano.
Milano was a senior captain for the 2007 team that finished 24-22 (12-17 Colonial Athletic Association) and failed to make the post-season. On June 8, he became the 12th player in the last ten years to be taken in the MLB draft when the Red Sox drafted him in the 20th round (624th overall).
He had a landmark season, setting personal bests with a .337 batting average, 13 home runs and 48 RBI this season earning looks from scouts across the majors before signing with the Red Sox. He made his professional debut last night with the Single A Lowell Spinners.
Milano’s professional debut is shadowed by former Husky slugger Carlos Pena who is currently the starting first baseman for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and recently hit his 100th career home run. Pena was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 1998 MLB Draft as the 10th overall pick. He currently sports a .314 average with 16 home runs and 43 RBI on the season.
Pena was a last-minute addition to the Devil Rays roster at the end of Spring Training when Greg Norton hurt his knee after playing in the Red Sox organization last season. Pena is the only Husky currently in the major leagues and he gave Northeastern a shout out on Baseball Tonight Sunday.
Last season’s ace Adam Ottavino is enjoying success in his second season as a pro. Ottavino was the first round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and is currently a starter for the Single A Palm Beach County team.
This season he is 3-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 61 innings and is listed as the seventh best prospect in the Cardinal’s organization by Baseball America.
Catcher Matt Morizio and outfielder Chris Emanuele were drafted along with Ottavino in 2006. Morizio was drafted in the 17th round by the Kansas City Royals and is hitting .248 with three homers and 15 RBI for the Single A Burlington Bees.
Emanuele is batting .252 with three home runs, 17 RBI and six stolen bases for the Toronto Blue Jays’ Single A team, the Lansing Lugnuts. He was drafted by the Jays in the 26th round last year.
Carlos’ younger brother Omar was drafted in the 16th round of the 2003 draft. He is recently signed with the Single A High Desert Mavericks of the Seattle Mariners organization. He is off to a quick start going 12-31 (.387) with eight runs scored and five doubles in his first 10 games. The shortstop spent last season in the Kansas City organization.
Pitcher Justin Hendrick left the Huskies in the 2004 draft when he was picked by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round. This season he is 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA for the Double A Connecticut Defenders.
The final Husky in the pros is former catcher Like Carlin. He was selected by the Detriot Tigers in the 10th round of the 2002 draft and was released by the club a year later. He then signed to the San Diego Padres in April 2003. He currently has eight doubles and nine RBI for the Triple A Portland Beavers.
With all the former Northeastern stars making appearances in minor league parks this summer and Carlos Pena lighting up the Devil Rays batting order, there is plenty for the Husky faithful to focus on until games start back up on campus.
And just think, if a few more fans showed up at Friedman Diamond, you could have seen them before they went pro.
– Erika Carrubba can be reached at
