Anetsberger, Biela sign pro baseball contracts

[June 28, 2007]  NORMAL -- When Illinois State baseball player Ryan Anetsberger was drafted in 15th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, he was unsure of his next step. However, after conversing with family and friends, Anetsberger and 2007 recruit Andrew "Butch" Biela have both decided to sign professional contracts, with the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively.

Anetsberger, who was selected with the Marlins' 466th pick, was a Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection at third base in 2007 after batting a team-best .328 with a career-high five home runs and 30 RBIs. The Wheaton native started and played in 47 games, splitting time at third and as the Redbirds' designated hitter while scoring 32 runs and collecting 12 doubles, a triple and 20 walks. In his three seasons at Illinois State, Anetsberger started all 153 games he played, hitting .328 with eight home runs, 196 hits and 87 RBIs.

Anetsberger signed his contract early last week and was immediately flown out to Jamestown, N.Y., to join the Jamestown Jammers (short-season Class A) of the New York-Penn League. Through the first four games of his professional career, Anetsberger is batting .267 with four hits (two doubles) and two runs.

Anetsberger, who was also a second team all-conference selection in 2006, felt that the time was right to make the jump to the professional ranks.

"After thinking it over, I just thought that I was ready to go out and give pro ball a shot," said Anetsberger. "I feel that I will have the opportunity to finish school down the road, but you don't always have the opportunity to follow a dream and play baseball professionally."

Biela, who originally signed a national letter of intent to continue his career and education at ISU, was chosen with the 398th overall pick in the 12th round by the Pirates. The Barrington native was a 2007 Chicago Tribune All-State First Team selection in the outfield after hitting .449 with a rare combination of speed (30 doubles) and power (10 doubles, 11 home runs). Biela also had a stellar junior campaign, as he was a 2006 all-area third team pick by the Chicago Sun-Times after leading his Palatine High School team to a Mid-Suburban West title.

Biela has also already begun his professional career, starting out at the Gulf Coast (Rookie) League Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. Through three games and seven at-bats, Biela is hitting .147 with one hit, one run and one RBI.

While head coach Jim Brownlee was disappointed to see both Anetsberger and Biela leave for the professional ranks, he believes that each will be successful and hopes that they will be able to fulfill their dreams.

"It's always good to have players drafted from a recruiting standpoint, especially because it shows that assistant coaches Tim (Brownlee) and Seth (Kenny) have been targeting the right people," said Brownlee. "Hopefully, Ryan and Butch will make it to the big leagues in three to four years, and we wish them nothing but the best.

"Heading into the draft, we were prepared with the prospects of losing Ryan, but it was kind of a surprise to lose Butch. But both are good guys, and it is everybody's dream to play pro baseball. In Butch's case, the hard part is that you put months into recruiting, and once you land a kid, the pros snatch him away."

Anetsberger became the first Illinois State position player to be drafted since 2004 and the third player taken in the past two years. He joined former teammates and pitchers Kitt Kopach (Chicago Cubs) and Dan Frega (Cleveland Indians), who were both selected in the 12th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Draft.

[Text from news release received from John Sandberg, Illinois State University]