SHEPHERDSTOWN – Brenton Doyle, a much-decorated junior outfielder at Shepherd, didn’t have to wait very long to hear his name called on the second day of the Major League Baseball draft of amateurs.

In the fourth round, Doyle became the first NCAA Division II player in the country selected. He was taken by Colorado in a slot pegged for a bonus to sign of between $450,000 and $500,000.

As a junior, Doyle still has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining should he choose not to sign – an unlikely proposition.

West Virginia University actually had eight players selected in the 40-round draft.

Alek Manoah, a junior right-handed pitcher, was selected in the first round by Toronto. Like Doyle, Manoah could play another season at WVU, but his place as the 11th player taken overall guarantees him millions in bonus money.

After Manoah’s selection, the Mountaineers had seven more players taken in the first 34 rounds of the 2019 draft.

Senior catcher Ivan Gonzalez went to the Chicago White Sox in the eighth round. In the 11th round, left-handed pitcher Nick Snyder was taken by Arizona. Snyder has one year of eligibility left should he decide to stay in Morgantown and pitch another season. Kade Strowd was selected by Baltimore and the right-handed pitcher stated he would sign a professional contract with the Orioles.

Outfielder Brandon White, a junior, went to the Los Angeles Angels in the 17th round. And senior outfielder Darius Hill was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 20th round.

Chase Illig, a redshirt junior catcher, was picked in the 29th round by the New York Yankees. Illig missed most of the 2019 season with injuries.

Junior right-handed pitcher Sam Kessler, WVU’s closer this past season, was selected in the 34th round by Detroit. Kessler could return to WVU for one more season.

Shepherd’s Doyle would likely begin his professional career at either Grand Junction (Colorado) in the Pioneer League or Boise (Idaho) in the Northwest League.

The Pioneer League is an eight-team Rookie League that begins its season on Friday, June 14.

The Northwest League is a Class A-Short Season circuit with eight teams that also begins the season on Friday, June 14.

Should Doyle progress out of one of those two leagues, he could arrive in the South Atlantic League with the Asheville (NC) Tourists.

As a fourth-round draft pick and with his considerable signing bonus in hand, Doyle would very likely be an “every day” player no matter where he is placed by the parent Colorado Rockies franchise.