VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton junior right-handed pitcher Ben Anderson got the call early on Day 3 of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and will begin his professional career with Texas. The Rangers took Anderson in Wednesday's 13th round (385th pick of draft - out of 1,217 total).

Anderson becomes BU's ninth MLB Draft selection in the last eight years and the fourth Bearcat pitcher taken in the last four years. He is the 15^th player in program history taken and is BU's highest pitching selection in the last seven years. 

"I'm excited to start this new journey and owe a lot to the players and coaches of Binghamton University for where I am today," Anderson said.

He was watched by at least a half-dozen MLB scouts throughout the 2019 season, adding pressure to each start. Anderson was originally drafted in the 26^th round by Toronto as a senior in high school before deciding to come to Binghamton and pitch under former MLB draft pick and six-time America East Coach of the Year Tim Sinicki.

At Binghamton, Anderson worked out of the bullpen his first two seasons before moving into a starting role in 2019. He finishes his collegiate career with 13 wins and a 2.61 ERA in 40 appearances (137.2 IP). That career ERA is the lowest in BU history.  
 
"I'm very excited for Ben and his family for this opportunity," Sinicki said. "He's worked extremely hard the last three years to develop and put himself in this position. The Texas Rangers have a very talented pitcher joining their organization and even a better young man."
 
Anderson produced a record-breaking season in 2019, going 9-4 with 108 strikeouts and a 2.76 ERA in 88 innings. His 11.05 strikeouts per nine innings ranks as the highest average in the 30-year history of the America East and his strikeout total was the third-highest in conference history. He broke school records for wins and strikeouts and was named America East Pitcher of the Year and first team all-conference. America East batters hit just .189 off him.

In his final outing as a Bearcat, Anderson delivered a masterful nine-inning complete game as BU beat Hartford 2-1 in its opening round of the America East tournament on May 22. In that game, he scattered six hits (all singles) and one earned run before BU won it on a ninth-inning walkoff.

He ranks fourth in the nation in complete games (4), 28^th in victories and 41^st in strikeouts.  

The Bearcats (26-24) were 2019 America East runnersup after winning three tournament games as the host school.

NOTES
Anderson becomes the second-highest BU pitching selection in program history, joining fellow Albany-area native, Shenendehowa High School product and MLB player Murphy Smith, who was also taken in the 13th round back in 2009. Former right-handed pitcher Mike Augliera was taken by Boston in the fifth round in 2012 ... Anderson will join twin brother Ian in the professional ranks. Like Ben, Ian was drafted as a high school senior pitcher (3rd overall pick in 2016 by Atlanta) ... Anderson is the first Bearcat selected by Texas. Binghamton players have now been drafted by 11 different MLB teams ... Anderson was the first player from the America East selected in this year's draft ... there are 40 rounds in the MLB Draft.
 
Binghamton MLB Draft Picks
1990 – Dan Gray, C (Los Angeles Dodgers, 7th Round), Dirk Gorman, OF (Los Angeles Dodgers, 48th Round)
2001 – Jeff Montani, RHP (Baltimore Orioles, 37th Round)
2008 – Jeff Dennis, LHP (Oakland Athletics, 40th Round)
2009 – Murphy Smith, RHP (Oakland Athletics, 13th Round)
2010 – Henry Dunn, OF (Cleveland Indians, 50th Round)
2012 – Mike Augliera, RHP (Boston Red Sox, 5th Round), Lee Sosa, RHP (Oakland Athletics, 26th Round)
2014 – Bill Bereszniewicz, OF (Los Angeles Dodgers, 28th Round)
2015 – Jake Thomas, OF (Toronto Blue Jays, 27th Round)
2016 – Mike Bunal, RHP (Colorado Rockies, 17th Round)
2017 – Justin Yurchak, 3B (Chicago White Sox, 12th Round), Dylan Stock, RHP (Detroit Tigers, 25th Round)
2018 - Nick Wegmann, LHP (Seattle Mariners, 34th Round)
2019 – Ben Anderson, RHP (Texas Rangers, 13th Round)

Free Agent Signings
1976 – Jerry Gaube, RHP New York Yankees
1981 – Mike Bucko, RHP, Cleveland Indians
1985 – Dan Tauken, RHP, Chicago White Sox
2007 – Scott Diamond, LHP, Atlanta Braves
2016 – Reed Gamache, 2B, New York Mets