Gold Taken By the Baltimore Orioles in 35th Round of the MLB Amateur Draft

2014 MLB Amateur Draft Website
2014 MLB Amateur Draft Results – Baltimore Orioles

SEACAUCUS, N.J. –First Team All-American outfielder and D3Baseball.com Player of the Year Tad Gold (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) became the second player in Endicott baseball history to hear his name call in the Major League Baseball (MLB) amateur draft as the former Gulls standout was taken in the 35^th round (1,051^st overall) by the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

Gold was the 14^th NCAA Division III player taken off the board in this week's MLB draft and the second from New England behind UMass Boston outfielder Jamill Moquette who was also drafted by the Orioles in the 32^nd round (961^st overall). Gold joins former pitcher Matt Bishop '06 as the only players from the Endicott baseball program to get drafted. Bishop was taken in the 37^th round (1,124^th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2005.

The 2014 MLB amateur draft concluded after three days, 40 rounds, and 1,215 selections. The final day of the draft consisted of rounds 11 through 40 and put 900 players in position to take the next step of their baseball journeys. Players now have the option to sign or continue their amateur playing careers with collegiate athletes having until July 18^th to decide whether to return to their institutions.

"I couldn't be more proud of and excited for Tad," said Endicott head coach Bryan Haley who will be entering his eighth season in 2014-15 and has seen Gold develop since his rookie season in 2010-11. "He has worked year round for the past four years to make himself a better player and he has earned himself an incredible opportunity. The Endicott baseball family will all be following and supporting Tad as he elevates himself through the professional ranks.  He is a special player and a truly one of a kind young man. I'm excited to see where this new journey takes him." 

In 2014, Gold capped off his four years in the Blue and Green with a career season in which the outfielder batted .429 with 79 hits, including 27 for extra bases, 60 runs scored, 45 runs batted in, and 28 stolen bases. Gold got on base at a .493 clip and slugged .625 for a 1.118 OPS. Gold finished his career as the program's leader in hits (222), runs (163), triples (23), and stolen bases (94) while ranking in the top-10 in nearly all offensive statistical categories. Defensively, Gold did not commit an error all season long and ended his career with a .995 fielding percentage as the team's centerfielder for 178 games played.

Gold's efforts this past spring helped Endicott win their second straight Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship and reach the NCAA Division III New England Regional final in back-to-back seasons. In his four years, Endicott accumulated a 130-61 (.681) overall record and a 55-15 (.786) in-conference record with two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Championships (2011-12), two CCC titles (2013-14), and two NCAA New England Regional finals appearances (2013-14).

Gold is a three-time All-CCC honoree (First Team in 2012 and 2014, Honorable Mention in 2013), CCC Player of the Year (2014), D3Baseball.com New England Player of the Year and First Team (2014), New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Player of the Year and First Team (2014), American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) First Team All-American, and D3Baseball.com National Player of the Year and First Team All-American (2014).