MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Former Blue Raider Daniel Palo and future Blue Raider Ryan Aper were both selected in the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Palo was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 27th round with the 799th pick. The Miami Marlins selected Ryan Aper with 172nd pick in the sixth round.
Palo enjoyed his best season on the mound as a senior in 2013. The Germantown, Tenn., native held a 2.64 ERA, the lowest on the squad and best mark of his career. Palo accumulated a team-leading eight saves, including one in Middle Tennessee's 4-1 win over No. 2 Vanderbilt on March 20. From April 9 through May 3, the righthander went a stretch of 16 innings without surrendering an earned run.
Aper, who is slated to join the Blue Raiders for the 2014 season, was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II All-America First Team last week. An outfielder for Lincoln Land Community College, Aper served as the leadoff hitter for the Logger. He led the squad in runs (82), hits (96), doubles (17), triples (12) home runs (17), RBI (55) total bases (188) and amassed a .540 on-base percentage. The Lincoln, Ill., native also slugged .904 and swiped 52 bases on the season. Aper has until July 15 to decide whether to pursue a professional career or join the Blue Raiders.
