Shaker grad Jeff Hoffman has made it quite clear that he will play professional baseball.

In his junior season at East Carolina University, Hoffman has gone from good to great. The past two years he has starred in the Cape Cod summer league and his fastball sits in the mid-90s.

On Wednesday, Hoffman was listed as the No. 2 prospect before the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

The MLB Draft takes place on Thursday, June 5. The typical format would have to first two rounds take place on the first day, so Hoffman will likely be off the board before the weekend comes. Rounds 3-10 are on Friday and the remaining 30 rounds take place on Saturday.

 Here is a look at a mock draft, where Hoffman is take second by the Miami Marlins. 

Here is a story I wrote about Hoffman, in May, when he was pitching during his sophomore season with the Pirates. 

(1/2) The Top 10 on @MLB Top 50 2014 Draft Prospects list: 1) @CarlosRodon16 2) @hoff_23 3) @AlexJaxxsun10 4) @tylerkolek58 5) @treavturner
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) December 4, 2013

Below is what MLB.com is saying about the right-hander, who was named The Record's Player of the Year, in 2011, when he helped Shaker reach the New York State Class AA title game.

Jeff Hoffman

Rank: 2

East Carolina, Junior

Height: 6'4", Weight: 185

Position: RHP

DOB: 1/8/1993

Bats: R, Throws: R

Twitter: @hoff_23

Prev. drafted: Never

Scouting Grades* (future): Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 65 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 60 | Overall: 70 Hoffman went undrafted as a senior at an upstate New York high school in 2011, but he drew six-figure free-agent offers from pro teams after starring that August at the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M. He stamped himself as a potential 2014 first-rounder when he hit 95 mph during the 2012 Cape Cod League All-Star Game, and reaffirmed that status with another strong performance in the Cape this summer.
Hoffman hasn't fully grown into his lanky 6-foot-4 frame, yet he already works in the mid-90s and hits 98 mph with his fastball. His big-breaking curveball can be equally devastating, and while his changeup lacks consistency, it can be a plus pitch at times. He throws a decent amount of strikes but will need to refine his command to become a frontline starter in the big leagues.
If anyone will dethrone North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon as the No. 1 overall choice in the 2014 Draft, it likely will be Hoffman.

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute baseball team has advanced to the Division III NCAA tournament. The Engineers are participating in the New York Regional, an 8-team double-elimination tournament at Falcon Park in Auburn.

Here is a link to the story on the team that ran in Wednesday's paper. RPI plays Cortland Wednesday evening, in a game that was supposed to start at 7:45 p.m., but play has already been shifted because of weather.

Here is a link to the Regional homepage, which has links for Live Stats, Twitter links, Radio feeds and everything else you can want. 

Photo Contributed

Here is the final play from Monday's UAlbany/Boston University game, at SEFCU Arena.

LOUDONVILLE — It was only a matter of time when the most productive baseball player in Siena College history would come to an end.

On Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners selected Dan Paolini, with the 303rd overall selection, in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

“It was an incredible moment,” Paolini told the Siena athletic department. “I was sitting around with my family (listening to the draft), and it was a really anxious and nervous time hearing all the names fly by. Then I got a text saying that the Mariners were going to take me with their next pick. I couldn’t be happier.”

Paolini finished his three-year career with the Saints, hitting .380 and hammering 56 home runs, both program records.

The Connecticut native was named a second team All-American choice by Collegiate Baseball in 2010, after leading the nation by averaging one home run, every two games.

“I can’t thank Coach (Tony) Rossi or Siena College enough,” he said.

Should he sign, Paolini would become the 34th player in program history to ink a professional contract.

He will try to become the fifth player in school history to make it to the big leagues.

FORMER SAINTS EXCEL ON DIAMOND: Both of Siena College’s professional baseball alumni received recent promotions. John Lannan (‘05) was recalled by the Washington Nationals over the weekend.

Anthony Giansanti (‘10) was promoted by the Chicago Cubs organization to the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League on Tuesday.

In Lannan’s return, the left-hander earned a no-decision after tossing five innings in a game the Nationals lost 6-4 to Philadelphia in 11 innings.

Giansanti tore up the Arizona Rookie League, hitting .327 in 27 games with two home runs and 19 RBI.

I had a chance to speak with CBA grad Greg Holle this afternoon for a feature in our Sunday paper.

Holle was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in June's draft and just signed with the club on Friday.

Holle will forgo his senior season at TCU and head off to Phoenix on Monday for a physical and to pitch a few times with their Arizona League rookie club.

"It's a little bittersweet because I had so much fun at TCU and the stuff that we accomplished," he said. "It couldn't have been a better experience. It's just time to move on, time to start a pro career. I'm going to give it my all and see where it takes me."

He told me that he is excited to get going with his career, but at the same time a little nervous for the unknown.

"It's a little nerve-racking," he said. "It's time to do it. I'm ready to get started. I'm ready for that challenge and I'm going to give it my all and go out and compete like a son of a gun."

Holle's father Gary also came up in the Milwaukee organization, before breaking into the big leagues with the Texas Rangers.

After going to Arizona, Holle will likely join the Helena Brewers (Pioneer League) or the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Mid West League) at Milwaukee's Class A level.

Rensselaer senior pitcher Andrew Mondo tied the school record with 25 wins this weekend.

"Andrew has been a successful pitcher in both HS & College because of his personal determination and work ethic," said Shenendehowa coach Jim Carrese, Mondo's high school coach. "He has great family support and Coach (Karl) Steffan was able to get a Northeast D-I pitcher to go to a nationally ranked D-III program and anchor a pitching staff that has given RPI a solid foundation for the past four years."

Here's the link to the story that ran on Saturday.

According to various sources, the Siena men's basketball team as inked a team from the ACC to add to its schedule for the upcoming 2009-10 season.

The Saints will travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech and former coach Paul Hewitt.

The deal apparently will give Siena a home game in the 2010-11 season before again heading to Atlanta for an away game in 2011-12.

Also, Yellow Jackets reserve Brad Sheehan, a Shaker High graduate, will be a senior when the series returns to Albany in the 2010-11 season.

University at Albany catcher Ryan Gugel became the third Great Danes player in as many seasons to sign a professional contract when he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, June 12. 

Gugel reported to Clearwater, Fla., to train with the organization's rookie league team, the Gulf Coast Phillies. 

Gugel recentley completed his second season with UAlbany, finished with a .303 batting average and a team-high nine home runs. 

"Ryan is an extremely hard working student-athlete," said UAlbany baseball coach Jon Mueller. "This is a great opportunity for Ryan and his family."

The Great Danes have had six players selected in the MLB Draft, while Gugel is the latest in a long line of UAlbany athletes who have signed free agent professional contracts.

Siena College junior Anthony Giansanti (right) was drafted in the 49th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft on Thursday by the Oakland Athletics.

The junior from Montville, Conn., was an All-MAAC First Team selection after hitting .350 with a team-high 14 home runs and 37 RBI.

Giansanti is currently playing for the Glens Falls Golden Eagles of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

If Giansanti were to sign with the Athletics, he would be the 34th Siena baseball player to sign a professional contract.

Siena’s last player to be drafted was John Lannan in 2005. He was taken by the Washington Nationals in the 11th round.

Giansanti is the 20th Siena player to be drafted since the amateur draft began in 1965 and the 12th player selected since 1996.

The University at Albany baseball team got a great pitching performance from sophomore Dave Kubiak, who struck out a career-high eight in eight innings, to defeat Stony Brook 8-1 on Thursday night in the first game of the America East Tournament in Endicott.

The Great Danes play at 8 p.m. tonight against top-seed Binghamton and The Record's former Playerof the Year Joe Charron (La Salle Institute).

The Schaghticoke native drove in two runs in the first round victory over Vermont.

A record total of 127,453 fans attended the Siena men's basketball teams' 17 home games this season placing the Saints 72nd in the nation in home attendance.

It marks just the second time more than 100,000 fans have attended a Siena basketball season.

A program record 7,497 fans per game came through the turnstiles. The previous high came during the 2002-03 season when the Saints averaged 7,362 fans for 17 home dates, including three postseason NIT contests.

In 2007-08, Siena averaged 6,471 fans for its 17 home games, meaning attendance this past season increased approximately 16%.

The 2008-2009 attendance figure was also aided by three MAAC Tournament games. Siena averaged 9,143 fans in its three MAAC Tournament contests highlighted by a crowd of 9,744 for its Championship game win over Niagara and a crowd of 9,674 for its Quarterfinal win over Canisius.

The 2008-2009 Siena average attendance ranked higher than many power conference schools, including: Georgia Tech, Seton Hall, Georgia, Stanford, Mississippi, St. John’s, Southern California and Boston College. The figure was also fourth among all Mid Major programs, trailing only Wichita State (42nd – 10,095), Bradley (9,110 – 55th) and Utah State (8,798 – 59th).

If you include away games, 207,287 fans watched Siena play basketball this season in their 35 games, included two NCAA Tournament contests.

Despite three errors, the Red Hawks held on to defeat Farmingdale State on Wednesday night.

RPI plays Western New England College tonight at 7 p.m.

Congratulations to coach Karl Steffan and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute baseball team, who received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Monday.

The Red Hawks (34-11) fell in the championship round of the Liberty League Tournament to Clarkson on Sunday after a marathon of three games.

RPI is the No. 3 seed in the New York Regional and will play Wednesday night against the host school, Farmingdale State, at 7 p.m.

Here are the other matchups.

No. 1 Cortland (30-12) vs. No. 6 Clarkson (24-20), noon
No. 2 Ithaca (29-8) vs. No. 5 Western New England (29-15), 3:30 p.m.
No. 3 RPI (34-11) vs. No. 4 Farmingdale State (26-13), 7 p.m.

The team leaves for Long Island tomorrow morning, but all of their games will be carried on 91.5 FM WRPI.

(RPI Athletics)