Lake Buena Vista, Fla. >> Tommy Kahnle hasn’t thrown a pitch in a regular -season game, but it’s likely not far off after Thursday.

J.S. Carras/The Record

The Shaker High grad was selected in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft by the Colorado Rockies at the end of the Winter Meetings.

The right-hander was left unprotected by the New York Yankees, but now must stay on the 25-man roster throughout the 2014 season with Colorado, or he will be offered back to New York.

Kahnle (seen working out at AllStars Academy in Latham, in January), 24, pitched this past season at Double-A Trenton, finishing with 15 saves and striking out 74 in 60 innings pitched. He did walk 46 batters, but held opponents to a .182 batting average.

The Rockies paid $50,000 to make the selection.

“We’ve had interest in him for a couple of years now in various means of acquisition,” Colorado’s director of professional scouting, Jon Weil, said in a statement. “Any time you can jump on a guy who has a chance to have impact, we’re wanting to do that. We’re glad he was there.”

Kahnle, who was a fifth round pick of the Yankees in 2010 from Lynn University, has posted an 11.82 strikeouts-per-nine-inning rate since the start of the 2011 season. His fastball has been clocked in the high-90s and now the Rockies will just have to harness that power and work on his control.

Kahnle was ranked No. 20 among Yankees prospects by MLB.com, entering 2013 season. He was with the Yankees at spring training last year, but the 6-foot-1, 230-pound hurler spent the season as Trenton’s closer.

Kahnle was one of just nine players selected in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft, with 45 players being taken overall.

The Yankees also lost pitchers Felipe Gonzalez, Kelvin Castro and Mikey O’Brien and outfielder Ravel Santana. O’Brien (Cincinnati), Gonzalez (Pittsburgh) and Santana (Houston) were chosen in the Triple-A portion, while Castro was taken in the Double-A phase by Miami.

• Link to story from January about Kahnle headed to spring training 

• Story from 2011 on Kahnle on finishing his first training  

• Kahnle returns home to play at Joe Bruno Stadium with Staten Island Yankees

• Kahnle signs with New York Yankees 

Scotia native David Filak was just recently selected in the 4th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft with the 134th selection by the Atlanta Braves.

The Burnt Hills graduate really turned things on this year for SUNY Oneonta, going 8-1 for the Red Dragons with two complete games.

The right-hander led all of Division III with 104 strikeouts in only 67 innings pitched.

Latham native Tommy Kahnle, who pitched at Shaker High, is still available as is Loudonville native Greg Holle and Siena's Anthony Giansanti.

All three are likely to be drafted.

Since today begins the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, I thought it would be appropriate to say that this blog, which mostly discusses college basketball with a little bit of college football thrown in, will now turn to baseball for the summer.

There are a lot of great baseball stories and players from this area.

Latham native Tommy Kahnle (left) has been given a 10-day contract with the Orleans Firebirds of the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League.

Kahnle plays collegiate baseball at Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida.

Kahnle, a 6-foot right-hander, just helped close out the Division II National Championship for the Fighting Knights.

Kahnle was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, popping his fastball in the mid 90s.

After making a transition from the rotation to the bullpen, Kahnle started shining and he closed out the national semifinal and the title game.

Kahnle posted a 1-0 record with two saves at the World Series, retiring 21 of the final 22 batters he faced, including the last 13 in a row.

Kahnle played at Shaker High and graduated in 2007.

He also pitched for the South Troy Dodgers making 30 appearances and posting a record of 9-2 with five saves and a 3.77 earned run average.

Good luck to Tommy.

Also, talking a look around at the other Cape Cod League rosters, I saw two other former Section II stars.

Greg Holle (Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox)
Dave Fischer (Wareham Gateman)

Holle currently plays for Texas Christian University and played for Christian Brothers Academy, while Fischer played at Burnt Hills and now plays at the University of Connecticut.

Both Holle ('07) and Fischer ('08) were drafted following their high school days, but elected to go to college.