Major League Baseball Draft Picks from Connecticut in 2016, and Those Who Preceded Them

If history is any factor, then a number of Connecticut-bred players selected in the recent Major League Baseball draft should have a good chance of reaching the big leagues.

Of the 11 Connecticut high schools who had players drafted earlier this month, nine have previously seen alumni make it to the major leagues.

Names like Jeff Bagwell, George Springer and Moe Drabowsky all attended the same schools as players picked in this year's draft.

Aaron Civale, a right-handed pitcher from East Windsor who recently finished his junior year at Northeastern University, was the first Connecticut selection this year, going to the Cleveland Indians in the third round with the 92nd overall pick. Civale graduated from Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, the alma mater of Moe Drabowsky, a colorful relief pitcher for 17 years in the major leagues who was a World Series hero for the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.

Civale is one of 11 players with Connecticut scholastic ties who were drafted. The complete list follows, including the school's most prominent MLB alumnus.

• Aaron Civale, East Windsor, Loomis Chaffee School (Moe Drabowsky), RHP, 3rd round, 92nd overall, Cleveland Indians
• Matt Albanese, East Haddam, Xavier High School (Jeff Bagwell), OF, 7th round, 213th overall, Minnesota Twins
• Matt Cleveland, Windsor High School (Dick Teed), RHP, 12th round, 370th overall, New York Mets
• Brandon Bonilla, Greenwich High School (Zeke Bella), LHP, 13th round, 391st overall, Baltimore Orioles
• Willie Rios, Waterford, St. Bernard High School (Brook Fordyce), LHP, 16th round, 481st overall, Baltimore Orioles
• Matt Blandino, Bristol Central High School, Tunxis Community College, Central Connecticut State University (none), RHP, 19th round, 558th overall, Cincinnati Reds
• Manny Cruz, Wolcott High School (none), SS, 23rd round, 678th overall, Cincinnati Reds
• Michael Gonzalez, Norwalk High School (Erik Bedard), RHP, 24th round, 711th overall, Milwaukee Brewers
• Jack Sundberg, Mansfield, Avon Old Farms (George Springer), UConn, OF, 26th round, 784th overall, Washington Nationals
• Austin French, Orange, Hamden Hall Country Day School (Josh Zeid), LHP, 27th round, 821st overall, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Chase Livingston, East Lyme High School (John McDonald), C, 39th round, 1,183rd overall, Kansas City Royals