By Patrick Gordon/Lakeland Sports Information

Kirtland, OH---Freshman pitcher Brandon Easton (Pymatuning Valley, Ohio) became the first Laker since 2009 to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft when he was picked in the 24th round by the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon.  

The hard-throwing lefty was pick No. 710 overall and was the 24th selection by the Twins.  

In his lone season at Lakeland, Easton was named Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) pitcher of the year.  He went 3-1 in league play with a 1.89 ERA, allowing just seven earned runs in 33 innings of work.

In just his second career start, Easton struck out 17 in seven innings of work against North Central Missouri College.  He also recorded double-digit strikeouts against Sinclair Community College (11) and Cuyahoga Community College (10) to finish the season with 78.  

He finished 22nd in the nation in strikeouts 78 and was selected to the All-Region 12 team at season's end.

Easton marks the first Lakeland baseball player to be drafted since Ryan Dennick and Steve Junker were selected by the Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies, respectively, in 2009.  

Dennick is currently playing for the Cincinnati Reds AA affiliate in Pensacola, Florida.