Baseball Player From College In Westchester Chosen In MLB Draft

A Monroe Mustang who played his college ball in New Rochelle is going to get his shot at The Show after being picked in the 12th round of the MLB draft.

Francisco Justo.
Photo Credit: *Monroe Mustangs*

Zak Failla

06/07/2018 10:10 a.m.

After finishing his freshman campaign with a perfect 10-0 record for the Mustangs, right-handed pitcher Francisco Justo of the Bronx was drafted in the 12th round of the draft (363rd overall) to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2018 Major League First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Justo’s performance this season earned him a spot on the 2018 NJCAA Div. I All-Region XV Team, and after a big start in the JUCO World Series, he was chosen to the all-Tournament team. The 6-foot-4 Bronx native finished the season ranked sixth in the nation in strikeouts-per-nine-innings (15.20), seventh overall with 121 strikeouts, and 15th in the country with a 2.01 ERA. He also punched out 16 batters in a single game during the Div. I Eastern District Championships.

“We are extremely proud that Francisco has been drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals,” head coach Luis Melendez said. “He has worked extremely hard for such an opportunity and we wish him success in his upcoming professional baseball career. And although he will be wearing red and white, we know he will always bleed blue and gold.”

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