The great-grandson of a Chillicothe woman and six former members of the Chillicothe Mudcats were selected during last week’s Major League Baseball draft of first-year players.
Shaeffer Hall, a left-handed pitcher who played at the University of Kansas and who has several relatives in and around Chillicothe, was picked by the New York Yankees in the 25th round (765th overall choice) and has signed with the organization.
He is the great-grandson of Liz Barnhart of Chillicothe and grandson of Wendell and Ellen Jones of Dawn and Bill and Jaci Hall of Cameron. An aunt is Karen Upton of Dawn. Jonne Parrish of Chillicothe is a great-aunt.
Hall has been assigned to the Yankees’ Staten Island Class A farm team and has reported to it.
He had been drafted by the Texas Rangers’ organization in 2006 and the Cleveland Indians took him in 2007.
“I am excited to get the opportunity of playing professional baseball,” Hall was quoted in a KU news release on the university’s website. “…I feel lucky to be a Yankee.”
From Lee’s Summit, Hall tossed the fifth no-hitter in Jayhawks baseball history on Feb. 20 of this year against Air Force.
He was an all-Big 12 Conference honorable mention pick as well as an academic all-conference performer.
As for the former Mudcats selected, the highest of those choices has signed to turn professional.
Catcher David "Bubby" Williams, who played here only briefly last year because of a season-ending back injury, has signed with the Houston Astros after being taken in the 11th round.
The next-highest pick, left-handed pitcher, Sam Spangler, went in the 20th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played here in 2007.
Left-handed pitcher Aaron Meade also was tabbed by the Yankees, in the 28th round. As of last Saturday, the ’08 Mudcat was still playing with the MINK League’s Sedalia Bombers.
Catcher Dallas Hord, who played in Chillicothe in 2007-08, went in the 32nd round to the Florida Marlins. He also has been playing with Sedalia.
Right-handed pitcher Nolan "Bubba" Martz, another ’08 Mudcat and the son of former big leaguer Randy Martz, went in the 47th round to Baltimore Orioles
Spencer Hylander a lefty pitcher who as part of the NBC World Series-qualifying 2006 Mudcats, was the 11th-to-last player chosen, going in the 50th round to Houston.
Chillicothe, Mo. —
