July 18, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- November Penn State baseball signee Dante Biasi (Hazle Township, Pa.) was presented with a tough decision in June when the Chicago Cubs drafted him out of Hazleton Area High School in the 22nd round (674th overall), but Biasi has elected to continue his academic and baseball career at Penn State.
The deadline for draft picks to sign was July 15.
"It was a tough choice, but I didn't think I was ready to be a pro," said Biasi. "I think college will help me in the future becoming more comfortable."
Biasi becomes the earliest high school draft pick to join the Nittany Lions since Eric Hohn was drafted out of high school in the 20th round, 518th overall, by the Baltimore Orioles in 1982. He will be Penn State's second high school draft pick on the roster, joining rising junior Taylor Lehman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) who was selected in the 34th round, 1,007th overall in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins.
"We're very excited to have Dante, as well as the rest of the incoming freshmen, joining us for this upcoming season," said head coach Rob Cooper.
Biasi will also be joining his older brother, Sal, who will be entering his junior year with the Nittany Lions. The younger Biasi also felt staying close to home was important in his college choice.
"Being from the northeast, baseball is kind of overlooked here, and I believe staying in the region to play helps us get noticed for what we have," said Biasi.
Biasi will likely redshirt for the 2017 season as he rehabilitates from Tommy John surgery. The arm injury cost him his senior season at Hazleton Area, but he went 3-1 with two saves, a 1.28 ERA, 52 strikeouts and a no-hitter in 38 1/3 innings pitched during his junior season, while also batting .435. Biasi was rated as the fifth-best player in Pennsylvania, 26th-best LHP nationally and No. 241 overall by Perfect Game. Biasi also earned first-team All-Wyoming Valley Conference recognition as a sophomore and junior, and was named Wyoming Valley Conference MVP as a sophomore.
"Dante is a highly competitive pitcher who can also swing the bat," said Cooper when Biasi signed in November. "He has the ability and work ethic to be a frontline starter on the mound for us and he is continuing to improve as an offensive weapon. He will bring great energy and desire to our program."
Biasi was one of three with Nittany Lion ties drafted in the 2016 MLB Draft. Junior Jim Haley was selected in the 19th round with the 570th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays, and elected to forego his final year of eligibility and sign, while graduate Jack Anderson was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round with the 687th pick.