Indians take Karinchak in the 9th round of the MLB Amateur Draft

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University baseball junior James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) was drafted in the ninth round, 282nd overall, by the Cleveland Indians in the MLB Amateur Draft on Tuesday.

Karinchak becomes the 13th Bulldog in the last five years, and the 17th in program history, to get drafted in the MLB Amateur Draft. He is the fifth junior in the last four years to be drafted.

Karinchak put together one of the best careers for a pitcher in Bryant history over the last three years. He made 42 appearances, 39 starts, over the course of his career, posting a 26-11 record. Karinchak struck out 272 batters, allowed just 169 hits and posted a 2.83 ERA in 229 innings. His 272 strikeouts are one shy of the all-time program record set by 2013 draftee Peter Kelich, while his 26 career victories are tied for third all time.

The first preseason All-American in Bryant's DI program history, Karinchak went 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA in 13 starts this spring. He allowed just 36 hits and struck out 86 batters in only 56 2/3 innings, finishing in the top three nationally with 13.66 K/9. Karinchak struck out 10+ batters on four occasions, posting 10 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings at the NEC Tournament in his final start as a Bulldog. Karinchak's best start of the year was his one-hit, 11-strikeout shutout of Wagner back in April.

Karinchak burst onto the scene as a freshman, earning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year honors after going 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings. He threw six complete games and posted three shutouts on the year.

He followed that up with one of the greatest seasons for a pitcher in program history as a sophomore. Karinchak set program records for wins (12) and strikeouts (112) in a season as he led the Black and Gold to their third NEC title. The NEC Pitcher of the Year, Karinchak earned All-America citations from three separate organizations.