UMaine slugging first baseman anticipates being drafted

University of Maine first baseman Jeremiah Jenkins was lifting weights on Friday morning preparing for his professional baseball career.

The three-time All-America East selection, including a first team pick the last two seasons, is expected to get selected in the top 10 rounds of the Major League baseball draft which begins Sunday night and lasts through Tuesday.

He will be the seventh Black Bear to be drafted over the last six years.

Shortstop Jeremy Pena was selected in the third round, 102nd overall, by the Houston Astros in 2018 and catcher Chris Bec was a fifth-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays (146th overall) that same year.

Pitchers Cody Laweryson (Minnesota Twins, 14th round,  419th overall), and Nick Silva (Chicago White Sox, 40th round,1,190th) were chosen in 2019; pitcher Nick Sinacola (San Francisco Giants, 7th round, 206th) was picked in 2021 and second baseman Quinn McDaniel (San Francisco, 5th round, 153rd) was taken in last year’s draft.

“I am very excited,” said the left-handed hitting Jenkins. “Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to play professional baseball.”

The power-hitting Jenkins has led America East in homers and slugging percentage the last two seasons.

He hit 22 homers and had a slugging percentage of .762 this past spring after belting 21 homers and having a .756 slugging percentage in 2023 when he was the league’s Player of the Year and an All-American.

UMaine head coach Nick Derba said he expects Jenkins to get selected between the sixth and ninth rounds and Jenkins said his agent, Dan Rosquete, told him the same thing.

“But you never know what can happen,” said Jenkins, who turned 21 on May 5.

He has been contacted by several teams and said the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants have shown the most interest.

“The Mets would be the front-runner,” said Jenkins, who added that he doesn’t care who drafts him.

“I just want an opportunity,” said Jenkins.

Signing bonuses for sixth-round picks range anywhere from $302,000 to $385,000 depending upon the team, according to MLB online. Seventh round picks get between $239,000-$300,000; eighth rounders can earn from $202,000 to $237,000 and ninth rounders can receive a bonus from $187,000 to $201,000. Tenth round picks receive between $178,000-$186,000.

Jenkins hit .341 this past season with 50 runs batted in, 47 runs scored, 12 doubles and an on-base percentage of .451 to go with his 22 homers and .762 slugging percentage.

He walked 35 times and only struck out 34 times in 185 at-bats.

“He hits the ball far and often,” said Derba. “He didn’t strike out much this season. Not too many guys have that kind of juice (power) and the ability to put the bat on the ball.”

Derba said his offensive numbers this spring were particularly impressive considering the fact he didn’t have anyone to protect him in the lineup.

And he added that Jenkins has never had trouble hitting a fastball regardless of its velocity.

And the Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native hits the ball to all fields with power.

Derba said Jenkins has improved defensively at first base and is one of the best diggers of low throws that he has had at UMaine in some time.

The franchise who drafts him will be getting a high-character individual, said Derba.

“He is fun-loving and is a genuinely nice person,” said Derba.

Jenkins spent two weeks playing for the Alexandria Aces (Louisiana) in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League in order to “see some live pitching.”

And he has continued to work out.

Jenkins, who was a Freshman All-American and on the America East All-Rookie team and all-league second team, is a career .332 hitter at UMaine with 50 homers, 153 RBIs, 132 runs scored and 31 doubles. He played in 148 games and missed only three.

“It was a fun time at Maine,” said the 6-foot-4, 238-pound Jenkins. “It was exciting. I learned a lot of new things. Now it’s on to the next chapter.”

He will watch the draft with his family.

“It won’t be anything too crazy,” said Jenkins who added that he is “ready to go” and start his pro career.