NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State's Paul DeJong and Will Headean have been selected in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. DeJong was a fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, while Headean was a 13th-round selection of the San Diego Padres.
"I want to congratulate Paul and Will for being drafted and for their contributions to Illinois State – both the baseball program and the University," said Illinois State head coach Bo Durkac. "They represented the institution in a positive manner, and I wish them luck as they begin their professional careers."
DeJong, the 131st overall selection, was the first Redbird selected in the draft, marking the second year in a row a Redbird was taken in the fourth round. DeJong posted a .326 batting average, .427 on-base percentage and .547 slugging percentage over three seasons as a member of the team. He tallied 42 doubles, 23 home runs and 113 RBIs, while playing five different defensive positions. The Cardinals list him as a third baseman.
In 2015, DeJong slashed .333/.427/.605 with 15 doubles and a Missouri Valley Conference-leading 14 home runs. He drove in a team-high 48 runs and scored 47 runs. He was an All-MVC First-Team selection for the second year in a row, while earning national recognition for his work both on the field and in the classroom.
DeJong was drafted for the second year in a row, after being a 38th-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates a year ago.
Headean, the 387th overall pick, was the second left-handed pitcher taken by the Padres in the draft. In three seasons as a Redbird, he owns a career record of 10-13 and a career 4.40 ERA. He has appeared in 48 games, with 28 starts. He has walked 101 and struck out 192 over 196.1 innings of work, while limiting opponents to a .243 batting average.
In 2015, Headean was 5-5 with a 3.99 ERA. He pitched in 17 games, with 15 starts, covering 94.2 innings. He struck out 86 batters and held opposing hitters to a .236 average.
DeJong and Headean led the Redbirds to a 27-27 record in 2015.
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