Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Jan. 19, 2021 – North Central College junior catcher Rob Marinec has received an invitation and accepted an opportunity to compete in the newly-formed Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft League, featuring the top draft-eligible players in the country across all NCAA divisions.

With the MLB first-year player draft moved back to July and a significant re-structuring of Minor League Baseball, Major League Baseball developed the Draft League to allow players to showcase their talents and gain exposure to MLB teams while competing and traveling in a simulated Minor League experience. 

The league currently features five teams spanning Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey, with a sixth team in the works.  With the Appalachian League evolving into a collegiate wood bat league, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, State College Spikes, Trenton Thunder, West Virginia Black Bears and Williamsport Crosscutters will be the founding members of the Draft League with plans for a 68-game schedule beginning in June.  The league will hold an All-Star break centered around July's draft, as players can choose to sign with MLB teams if drafted or return to the Draft League to finish out the season.

Marinec earned Second Team All-America honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Third Team All-America honors by D3baseball.com in 2019.  A two-time First Team All-Region and All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) selection, Marinec was named D3baseball.com Central Region Player of the Year in 2019, CCIW Player of the Year in 2019 and Central Region Rookie of the Year in 2018.

With just two full seasons under his belt as a Cardinal, Marinec currently ranks fifth in program history with 19 career homeruns and eighth with 119 runs batted in.  In 2019, Marinec batted .344 with a team-leading 11 homeruns, four triples, 53 RBI, 116 total bases and a .644 slugging percentage.  Marinec also ranked second on the team in hits (53), runs scored (50), walks (36) and on-base percentage (.462).

Marinec will report to the Draft League following North Central's 2021 season, with his specific club still to be determined.  The Cardinals' 2021 schedule is still being finalized and will be released at a later date.

Additional information on the MLB Draft League is available HERE.