Former Bethesda Big Train Star Selected In First Round of Major League Baseball Draft

The newest draft pick for the San Diego Padres may look familiar to local baseball fans—that's because he played two seasons with the Bethesda Big Train in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League.

Outfielder Hunter Renfroe—who played for Bethesda Big Train in 2011 and 2012—was drafted 13th overall by the Padres in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday.

Renfroe's selection at No. 13 sets the record for the highest a player has ever been drafted who played in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League the previous summer. It is also the highest a Big Train player has ever been drafted, according to a news release from Bethesda Big Train.

Renfroe—a native of Crystal Springs, MI, who attends and plays baseball for Mississippi State University—led the Big Train to many victories over the last two seasons.

"His power, speed, throwing arm and sportsmanship are everything that the Bethesda Big Train strives to be, the news release said.

A member of 2011's national championship team, Renfroe was named the Big Train's "Most Outstanding Hitter," setting the team record for home runs that summer. In 2012, Renfroe set league records for home runs, runs batted in, runs scored, slugging percentage and total bases.

"Hunter is the best five-tool player I have ever coached and the greatest position player ever to play in this league," Big Train Manager Sal Colangelo said.

Bethesda Big Train retired Renfroe's No. 11.

Meanwhile, Renfroe continues to play out the current baseball season at Mississippi State. He was named a First Team All-American by Louisville Slugger this season. Mississippi State faces the Virginia Cavaliers this weekend in Charlottesville in a best-of-three series in the Super Regionals of the College World Series.

The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League is an amateur summer wooden bat baseball league made up of 12 teams in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Region. All of the league's players must be younger than 23.