NEW YORK - West Chester University senior SS
Dylan Tice (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) was drafted in the 36th round of the 2015 MLB Entry Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday afternoon.
Tice, the 1,091st overall pick of the draft, becomes the 30th former West Chester baseball player to be drafted in the 50-year history of the entry draft. He is the third in the last four years and first since Joe Gunkel was taken in the 18th round by the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Tice will join Gunkel, Joey Wendle and Frank Gailey as former West Chester players currently active in the minor leagues when he reports to the St. Louis Cardinals in the next week.
For Tice, an honorable mention All-America pick by the American Baseball Coaches' Association (ABCA), it is just another award in a long list of postseason honors for the Golden Rams' shortstop. Tice tied for 13th in the nation in hitting with a .433 batting average. He hammered out 65 hits, including 16 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs, while knocking in 34 runs and scoring 59 times. He authored an .827 slugging percentage and a .548 on-base percentage as well. He only struck out seven times on the season, which ranks him tied for 11th in Division II.
Tice, a semifinalist for the Tino Martinez Award handed out to the Division II national player of the year, was also named All-Atlantic Region by both the American Baseball Coaches' Association (ABCA) and the NCBWA while also earning first team All-PSAC honors along with PSAC East athlete of the year.
He helped lead West Chester (27-15) to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. His .433 batting average is the highest single-season mark since 1996 and the fourth-best in school history. His .827 slugging percentage is .001 off the school record held by Tom Nuneviller in 1990. His .548 on-base percentage is also the best single-season effort since 1996 and the third-best mark in school history. Tice's 11 home runs are tied for seventh best in a single season and just two shy of the school's record.
