June 8, 2010
Shortstop Paul Bingham became the first IUP baseball player chosen in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in seven years when he was picked in the 20th round Tuesday by the San Diego Padres.
The 22-year-old Bingham gained the attention of baseball scouts during an honor-filled senior season which included his selection as a first team Daktronics and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-American and to the American Baseball Coaches Association second team.
Prior to the 2010 season, IUP had not had a first team All-American since Kevin McMullan in 1990. Bingham was also chosen the PSAC West Player of the Year and was on the all-conference first team after earning second team berths his first three seasons.
He was one of only two players from the PSAC and the only shortstop named a semifinalist for the inaugural Tino Martinez Division II Player of the Year award. He led the Crimson Hawks to a record of 31-24 and the team's first PSAC West title in 20 years with an 18-6 division record.
In addition to his play at IUP, Bingham spent the summer of 2008 with the Winchester Royals of the Virginia Valley League and was a member of the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League last summer. He also turned in a 3.75 grade point average during the spring 2010 semester while majoring in geographic information systems.
The last IUP player chosen in the June first-year player draft was pitcher Anthony Zambotti, who was picked by Oakland in the 14th round in 2003. The last position player taken was catcher Bruce Yard, a 42nd round selection of the Dodgers in 1992.
"Paul has been a cornerstone of our program since the day he stepped on campus," IUP coach Jeff Ditch said. "He came to IUP as a non-drafted high school player and developed himself into the best player in the PSAC. He was a fighter for us each and every inning and his makeup, work ethic and self-motivation will continue to propel him in his pro career."
Bingham batted .463 during the 2010 season, just .004 shy of the school record, broke a 17-year-old PSAC record with 45 stolen bases and tied a 33-year-old conference mark with 12 triples. He also set school marks with 88 hits, 70 runs and 134 total bases while adding 13 doubles, three home runs and 59 RBIs.
Bingham set IUP and PSAC career records with 28 triples and 98 stolen bases and school records with 642 at bats, 204 runs, 268 hits, 111 walks, 378 total bases and .417 batting average and is second with 39 doubles and 158 RBIs.
"I am very thankful and appreciative of everything Paul has brought to our team and proud to know he is taking part of IUP with him into professional baseball," Ditch said. "I know I speak on behalf of Paul when I say each and every one of his IUP teammates helped contribute to this great opportunity. We all wish him the best and are eager to follow his daily progress."
Bingham is the 113th player either coached or signed by Ditch to be drafted in 18 years coaching college and summer league baseball, including 10 who have reached the major leagues.
That list is headlined by World Series champions Kevin Youkilis of the Red Sox, whom Ditch coached at the University of Cincinnati, and Nate Bump of the Marlins, who played at Penn State when Ditch was on the Nittany Lions' staff. It also includes infielders Chase Headley (Padres), Jason Donald (Indians) and Steve Pearce (Pirates), outfielders Justin Maxwell (Nationals) and Julio Borbon (Rangers), catcher Brett Hayes (Marlins) and pitchers Tony Sipp (Indians) and Jeff Manship (Twins), who all played with the Kettleers.
