As the 2018 Major League Baseball draft gets underway this week, how about a trip down memory lane of Mainers getting that call to play pro ball.

119 players from Maine or played at a college in Maine have been drafted since the system began in 1965.

Carl 'Stump' Merrill was part of that very first MLB draft back in 1965. After playing for UMaine he was taken in the 23rd round by the Minnesota Twins. Eventually, Merrill would become manager of the New York Yankees.

Five Mainers were taken in that first draft, including well known Maine player and coach Dick Devarney.

Billy Swift 2
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South Portland's Billy Swift holds the mark as the top draft pick from Maine. After leading UMaine to the College World Series he became the #2 pick in the entire draft in 1984, taken by the Seattle Mariners.

Matt Kinney
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Hermon High School head coach Matt Kinney was drafted in the 6th round in 1995 out of Bangor HS by the Red Sox.

To check out the full list of Maine MLB draftees, check out this Baseball-Reference.com list...

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