Why two Coastal Carolina graduates may play minor league baseball in Myrtle Beach
Two Coastal Carolina graduates have signed professional contracts that may lead to them playing minor league baseball in Myrtle Beach.
Shortstop Scott McKeon and pitcher Scott Kobos inked undrafted free agent deals with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
The Pelicans are the Cubs’ Advanced Class A affiliate in the Carolina League, so both players would expect to play in Myrtle Beach within their first couple years of pro ball if they remain with the organization.
Sunday was the first day undrafted seniors and graduates could sign with Major League Baseball teams following a five-round draft that was held Wednesday and Thursday, in which CCU rising senior pitcher Zach McCambley was taken by the Miami Marlins in the third round.
Neither a 2020 major league nor a minor league season have been established because of the COVID-19 pandemic, though a shortened major league season is being negotiated.
McKeon and Kobos had the option of returning to CCU for the 2021 season when the NCAA granted all spring sports athletes another year of eligibility because the spring seasons were canceled by the coronavirus.
McKeon planned to return to CCU if he didn’t sign a pro contract, and Kobos was planning to transfer to play where he could pursue a graduate degree in engineering or statistics.
Another Chanticleer with eligibility remaining signed a pro contract Wednesday, as hard-throwing relief pitcher Chase Antle, who was a graduate transfer from Bowling Green for the 2020 season, announed on Twitter he has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Antle did not allow a hit or run in three one-inning appearances this past season, and hit 99 mph on the radar gun a couple times in the save he recorded against Maryland. He struck out four and walked one on the season.
In three years at Bowling Green, Antle went 3-9 with a 6.69 ERA over 42 appearances and 16 starts. He fanned 100 batters over 80.2 innings of work and opponents had a .263 batting average against him.
Undrafted eligible college players have until Aug. 1 to sign with MLB clubs, though no more Chants are expected to sign..
McKeon, who was drafted in the 21st round (622nd overall) by the Detroit Tigers in last year’s 2019 MLB Draft, started all 79 games at shortstop for the Chants over the last two years.
In his two seasons at CCU, McKeon hit .344 with a team-high 110 hits. He registered seven home runs, five triples and 19 doubles while driving in 48 RBIs and scoring 69 runs. He posted a career slugging percentage of .500 and an on-base percentage of .407 while playing solid defense with a .929 fielding percentage.
In the shortened 2020 season, the Raleigh, N.C., native hit .359 with a team-high 23 hits, including four home runs. He had a team-high eight multiple-hit games and posted a team-high six-game hitting streak. He was also a key part in the Chanticleers totaling 22 double plays on the season, which was tied for second in all of NCAA Division I.
Before arriving at CCU, McKeon was a third-team NJCAA Division II All-American in 2018 at Brunswick Community College where he hit .339 and had 71 hits, three home runs, two triples, 15 doubles, 40 RBIs, 56 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, a .556 slugging percentage, and a .481 on-base percentage.
Kobos, who joined the Chants prior to the 2018 season as a junior college transfer, went a combined 4-5 overall with a 6.23 ERA over 23 appearances on the mound. He made 11 starts and recorded one save out of the bullpen. He struck out 61 batters and walked 15 hitters over 60 2/3 innings.
Tommy John surgery on his left elbow ended Kobos’ first season with CCU in 2018. His 2019 numbers were undoubtedly impacted by the injury and surgery, and in 2020 Kobos made four starts and struck out 20 batters in 19 1/3 innings. He went 1-3 while CCU averaged just 2.4 runs per game in his starts. Aside from a rough outing against Middle Tennessee on March 7, Kobos allowed just four earned runs over 16 2/3 innings pitched.
Kobos was selected in the 38th round (1,152nd overall) of the 2017 draft by the Cleveland Indians as a two-way player at St. Johns River State College in 2017 after playing as an outfielder as a true freshman at UNC Asheville in 2016.
This story was originally published June 14, 2020 at 2:52 PM.
