Former and potential Monarchs making a big impact on the national baseball scene

From Florida to St. Louis to California, former baseball players from MCC-Maple Woods are making their mark on professional baseball. Albert Pujols, who played with the Monarchs in 2000, is perhaps the first name that comes to mind when thinking about players who have crossed over into the big leagues, but since 1994, nearly 20 players have been selected in the MLB draft, by teams like the Marlins, Astros, Tigers, Mets, Rangers, White Sox, Phillies, Twins, Dodgers, Cardinals and the hometown Royals.

The most recent draftee is former Monarchs catcher Joe Lincoln, who transferred from MCC-Maple Woods to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Mo., to continue his education and baseball career. While playing in a summer league for the non-pro Nevada Griffons, Lincoln was recently selected in the 34th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and will report to Ogden, Utah, to play for the Raptors in the rookie Pioneer League.

Chuckie Jones, Gatorade’s Missouri Baseball Player of the Year and a Boonville High School graduate, is committed to playing at MCC-Maple Woods next year, and was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the seventh round of the April MLB draft.

Jake Blackwood, who played for MCC-Maple Woods and the Florida Marlins, was recently selected at the Player of the Week for the Northern League as a member of the Kansas City T-Bones. Blackwood, who spent four seasons in the Marlins organization, leads the Northern League with 12 RBI after signing with the T-Bones in 2009.