Following the completion of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, three Nova Southeastern Baseball players have signed professional contracts and joined the illustrious ranks of being "Sharks in the Pros." Adan Fernandez, Jeremy Cook and Daniel Rivero all agreed to deals with the West Virginia Black Bears in the MLB Draft League.
Fernandez had another prolific campaign for NSU in 2022, leading the club in home runs (12), and slugging percentage (0.570), while driving in 45 runs, and finishing the season with a 0.306 batting average. For his Sharks career, Fernandez totaled 25 home runs, 89 RBIs and held a 0.330 batting average. Fernandez also was recognized with a pair of All-Sunshine State Conference First-Team honors in 2021 and 2022.
Cook anchored the Nova Southeastern pitching staff throughout the season, making a team-high 14 starts on the 2022 campaign. The left-hander registered a perfect 4-0 record in Sunshine State Conference play, pitching to a 3.88 earned run average, striking out 52 in 55.2 innings pitched. Cook made five consecutive quality starts in league play from April 3 to April 30, finishing the month with an ERA of 3.51.
Across two seasons at NSU, Rivero appeared in 21 games and made 15 starts. During the 2022 campaign, Rivero tossed 16 consecutive scoreless innings in three starts between February 19 and March 4, during which he struck out 14 batters.
The West Virginia Black Bears of the MLB Draft League finished as the first half champions with a 23-15 record and have gotten off to a 3-1 record in the second part of the season. Fernandez, Cook and Rivero joined the club during their road-trip and the Black Bears take on the Trenton Thunder on Tuesday, July 26.
UPDATE
Fernandez holds a 0.364 batting average, with three RBI and two runs, in three games since signing with the Black Bears. Cook tossed seven innings, while striking out 10 against the Frederick Keys in the first game of the second half. Rivero made his professional debut on 7/25, striking out two in two innings.
Original source can be found here.
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