Atlanta Braves Draft Florida Tech’s Clabough
By Space Coast Daily // June 7, 2012
Getting The Call
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BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA –Florida Tech senior K.C. Clabough became the latest Panthers player to be selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft when he was chosen by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday with the 869th pick in the 28th round.
He joins Florida Tech junior right-hander Steven Schils, who was taken by the Braves in the ninth round on Wednesday.
“K.C. had two great years here and we’re extremely excited for him and his family,” Panthers head coach Greg Berkemeier said. “I wish him the best of luck as he pursues his dream.”
Clabough played two seasons at Florida Tech after transferring from Daytona State.
In his career with the Panthers, he started all 99 possible games, batting .374 with 135 hits, 29 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 66 RBIs. He drew 41 walks and swiped 61 of 74 bases.
He led the Sunshine State Conference in stolen bases in both years.
Clabough recorded 26 stolen bases as a junior and 35 as a senior, which ranked ninth in NCAA Division II. He also paced the SSC with a .405 batting average in his junior season.
“It’s very exciting and humbling at the same time,” Clabough said. “This opportunity is something I’ve been working towards since I was able to play this game at 5-years-old. It opens up a new chapter in my life and I’m looking forward to it. I realize I’m going to need to work even harder because everyone is good at the next level.”
As a Panther, he was selected all-America, preseason All-America twice, all-region five times and all-SSC twice. He was also named to the Tino Martinez Award Watch List prior to the 2012 season.
“Florida Tech helped me a lot in this process,” he said.” “I felt like I was a talented baseball player when I transferred, but I hadn’t put all the phases of the game together. The coaching staff of Coach B, Merc and Nick (Brennan) helped me develop further. With great coaching and persistence, I was able to put it all together.”
He is originally from Cocoa Beach and graduated from Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School, where lettered in both baseball and football.
His parents are Craig and Missy Clabough of Cocoa Beach.
