ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University baseball team hosted the annual pro scout day at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field on Tuesday afternoon. Scouts from around Major League Baseball came to take notes on several Lakers expected to make significant contributions to the upcoming 2013 season.

The event comes on the heels of former Mercyhurst outfielder David Lough (2005-07) becoming the third player in program history to reach the Major League level this season. Lough, a native of Akron, Ohio, made his big league debut on Saturday, September 1 against the Minnesota Twins and singled in his first major league at bat off of righthander Liam Hendriks. The 26-year old Lough joined pitchers John Costello and David Lee, both of whom are in the Mercyhurst Athletic Hall of Fame, as Mercyhurst alums able to reach the Major Leagues.

Costello played parts of four major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, and San Diego Padres from 1988-91. He went 11-6 with a 2.97 earned run average in 116 big league games. Meanwhile, Lee played parts of five seasons in the bigs with the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, and Cleveland Indians from 1999-2004. He posted a 5-2 record with one save and a 4.37 earned run average.

Lough played 20 games for the Royals during his September call-up and batted .237 with nine runs scored, two runs batted in, and a stolen base. Ranked 18th among the Royals top-20 prospects according to Baseball America, Lough was batting .275 for the AAA Omaha Storm Chasers in the Pacific Coast League before the call-up. In 130 games with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate, Lough had 19 doubles, 11 triples, and 10 home runs while driving in 69 runs and leading the team with 26 stolen bases in 30 attempts.

Mercyhurst has become a popular school for Major League Baseball scouts over the past several seasons, as six former Lakers have been selected in the draft during the course of head coach Joe Spano's tenure at the college. That number includes five in the last six years. Former closer Nate Goodrich (1998-2001) was the first player drafted under Spano's tenure, as he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 45th round back in 2000.

The Lakers would then have two players selected in 2007. Lough was the highest draft pick ever from Mercyhurst, selected in the 11th round by the Kansas City Royals in 2007, while teammate Brian Espersen was taken seven rounds later by the Houston Astros.

Two Mercyhurst players would also be selected in the 2009 draft, as Jamie Walzcak was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the 15th round, followed by teammate Steve Grife being selected in the 26th round by the Chicago Cubs.

In June of 2011, pitcher Nick Gillung was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19th round.

All told, Mercyhurst has had 12 draft picks in school history. Joining the six drafted under Spano's tenure, also drafted from Mercyhurst was Costello (24th round of 1983 draft - St. Louis Cardinals), Chris Snusz (19th round of 1995 draft - Philadelphia Phillies), Lee (23rd round of 1995 draft - Colorado Rockies), Kevin Sweeney (29th round of 1996 draft - Arizona Diamondbacks), Pat Cutshall (17th round of 1997 draft - Houston Astros), and Justin Santonocito (28th round of 1998 draft - Arizona Diamondbacks).

Spano will be entering his 14th season as the head coach of the Mercyhurst baseball team in 2013. He has amassed a program record 396 wins, including a school-record 42 wins in 2011. The Lakers won the PSAC Championship in 2011 and has won the PSAC West in three of the four seasons in the league. Mercyhurst has also earned a berth in the NCAA regional playoffs in back-to-back seasons. 

Spano has won at least 20 games in each of his 13 seasons and has finished above .500 in ten of his 13 years, including eight consecutive seasons.

The baseball team will open the season on February 9 at Chowan University.