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A Nicholls State University senior baseball player got the call of a lifetime on Wednesday afternoon.
Colonels pitcher Cole Stapler was selected in the 22nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks – the only Nicholls player selected in the three-day draft.
Stapler, a 6-foot, 5-inch right-handed pitcher, earned his way to the next level after being one of the best pitchers in the Southland Conference last season.
“I am pumped right now. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime to go out and further my baseball career,” Stapler said after being picked. “I’m excited. I’m ready to get this thing on the road and get it going.”
Stapler joins a now growing contingent of Colonels who’ve been picked in the MLB Draft until coach Seth Thibodeaux’s watch.
Before Stapler, a total of five other Colonels had been picked in the draft in the past few seasons, led by pitchers Brad Delatte and Grant Borne, who were both chosen in the Top 10 rounds of the draft.
Stapler said he credits Nicholls’ coaching staff’s ability to develop players for the next level as a key reason for the rise in Nicholls players going to the pros.
He said he’s grateful to Thibodeaux and others who helped him get to this point.
“This coaching staff, including (pitching) coach (Zach) Butler and (Chris) Prothro in the past, grooms us and makes us into who we are today,” Stapler said. “I am forever in debt to those guys for what they’ve done to me and instilled in me the last four years.”
Thibodeaux said he believes Stapler will be a solid professional player, adding that he’s been nothing but a team-first guy during his four seasons in the program.
Stapler ends his college career with a 15-14 record and a 3.52 ERA in 240.2 innings.
“He has given everything he’s got for Nicholls,” Thibodeaux said. “He is an All-Conference pitcher, has his degree and will pitch professionally. I’m extremely proud of him.”
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