MLB Draft: Husker turns down pros after late-round selection

The Major League Baseball draft ended on a fairly painless note for Nebraska Thursday as junior Adam Bailey declared his intention to return next season after landing in the 38th round.

Bailey, who led Nebraska with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs while hitting .325, said he expected to go Wednesday in rounds eight to 11. By the time the New York Yankees selected him with pick No. 1,115, Bailey said, he had long since accepted the situation.

“I was upset, but then I realized I’m better than that,” he said. “I called the (NU) coaches and told them I was coming back.”

Also drafted Thursday were pitchers Steven Junker of Bellevue University (32nd round by Colorado) and Chris Kessinger of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (37th round by Seattle).

Ex-Husker Brian Feekin, a Papillion-La Vista graduate who pitched at Iowa Western Community College, was drafted in the 44th round by Philadelphia. Fellow IWCC pitcher Derek Landis went in the 45th round to San Diego.

Bailey’s return would provide an important boost for Nebraska, which finished 25-28-1 this year — its worst season since 1997. The first-year Husker led the Big 12 in home runs for much of the season’s first month but went seven weeks without a homer until early May.

He is playing this summer in Beatrice, Neb., and going to summer school in Lincoln after canceling plans to play in California. The Yankees told him they would send a scout to Beatrice, Bailey said, but he’s likely not going to be swayed into signing a professional contract.

“I’ll listen for sure,” he said, “but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Considering its losses of the past two years, NU survived the 50-round draft in decent condition. Ace pitcher Mike Nesseth, drafted Wednesday in the 15th round by Los Angeles Angels, plans to consider his options over the next several weeks.

Three NU recruits were drafted Wednesday. Another, Ryan Hander of Sioux Falls, S.D., went in the 39th round Thursday to the Dodgers.

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402-473-9587, mitch.sherman@owh.com