SECAUCAS, N.J. - Former Mercyhurst University shortstop Zak Blair (Jefferson, Ohio / Jefferson Area), who just completed his final season in a Laker baseball uniform last month, will be continuing his baseball playing career in the Chicago Cubs organization.

On Saturday afternoon, Blair became the 14th Mercyhurst player in the history of the progam to be taken in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, when he was selected as the second pick of the 20th round (588th overall) by the Chicago Cubs.

Blair is the first Laker drafted since 2011 when lefthanded pitcher Nick Gillung (Punxsutawney, Pa. / Punxsutawney) was selected in the 19th round (590th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals. He becomes the seventh-highest Laker drafted and the second-ever drafted by the Chicago Cubs organization (Steve Grife, 2009).

The shortstop led the Lakers with a .329 batting average (57-of-173) during his senior season, being named to the All-PSAC West Second Team. He was a First Team selection in 2011 before his Second Team nod this past year. In that 2011 campaign, Blair was also an ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American.

Blair led the team in several other offensive categories this season, including in runs (26), hits (57), doubles (12), total bases (71), and slugging percentage (.410). He was second on the team with six stolen bases and was one of the toughest players to strike out in the country, striking out just nine times in 173 at bats.

He also only committed nine errors in 226 total chances at shortstop (.960 fielding percentage), earning an ABCA/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region Gold Glove honor as well.

For his career, Blair batted .354 in his three seasons with the Lakers (192-of-543), tying the school record with 76 hits in 2011.

He will look to become the fourth Mercyhurst player to reach the Major League level, joining former Lakers John Costello, David Lee, and David Lough.

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 is currently playing for the Kansas City Royals, and, after batting .237 in 20 September games with the Royals last season, is batting .283 (15-of-53) with four doubles, two triples, and seven runs batted in in 16 games this season.

MERCYHURST DRAFTEES
John Costello (1983) - 24th round, St. Louis Cardinals
David Lee (1995) - 23rd round, Colorado Rockies
Chris Snusz (1995) - 19th round, Philadelphia Phillies
Kevin Sweeney (1996) - 29th round, Arizona Diamondbacks
Bob Balazentis (1997) - 30th round, Kansas City Royals
Pat Cutshall (1997) - 17th round, Houston Astros
Justin Santonocito (1998) - 28th round, Arizona Diamondbacks
Nate Goodrich (2001) - 45th round, Boston Red Sox
Brian Espersen (2007) - 18th round, Houston Astros
David Lough (2007) - 11th round, Kansas City Royals
Steve Grife (2009) - 26th round, Chicago Cubs
Jamie Walczak (2009) - 15th round, Cincinnati Reds
Nick Gillung (2011) - 19th round, St. Louis Cardinals
Zak Blair (2013) - 20th round, Chicago Cubs