University of Massachusets Athletics
Nick Serino Signs With Washington Nationals
June 15, 2010 | Baseball
June 15, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - UMass left-handed pitcher Nick Serino signed with the Washington Nationals on Monday following his selection by the club in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft last Wednesday. Serino, who recently completed his junior year as a member of the Minutemen, was taken with the first pick of the 37th round (1,106 overall). He will begin his professional career in Rookie ball with the Gulf Coast League Nationals, in Viera, Fla.
"It all happened so fast, but it was a good feeling," said Serino who arrived in Florida on Tuesday. "I enjoyed my time at UMass and I'm grateful for how that experience prepared me to take the next step into a career playing professional baseball. I've had a lot of support and I'm looking forward to what's ahead of me."
Serino is the 75th player from UMass to be drafted and is the second chosen by the Nationals, joining left-handed pitcher Mitchell Clegg who was drafted in the 21st round in 2009. In his second year in the Nationals' organization Clegg is enjoying a successful season with the Hagerstown Suns of the Class A South Atlantic League as he is currently 7-0 with 34 strikeouts to just nine walks in 55.0 innings pitched.
"He wished me luck and told me to take all the instruction that I receive with open ears," Serino said of his conversation with Clegg.
Serino is the 35th player in head coach Mike Stone's 23-year tenure to have his named called in the MLB draft.
Serving as the No. 1 starter in the Minutemen's weekend rotation for the bulk of 2010, Serino led the team with 83 strikeouts, tying him for ninth on the single season list in the UMass record book. Over 11 starts, Serino threw 69.2 innings and posted a 6.72 ERA.
The left-hander finished first in the Atlantic 10 with an average of 10.72 strikeouts per-nine innings and currently ranks 22nd in the nation. Serino fanned 10 or more in a game four times this spring, including striking out a career-high 13 batters at Saint Joseph's and vs. George Washington.
In his three seasons at UMass, Serino compiled 189 career strikeouts in 176.1 innings, tying him for sixth in program history. He registered nine career wins, three complete games, a 5.67 ERA and a opponent batting average of .268.
Playing for the Lowell All-Americans in the New England Collegiate Baseball league, Serino was named an NECBL All-Star in 2009.
