St. John’s University junior shortstop Joe Panik was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 29th pick in the first round of the MLB draft last night.
It’s the highest a Red Storm player has been chosen since pitcher Craig Hansen (26th to the Red Sox) in 2005.
Panik, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., earned All-Big East first team and Louisville Slugger All-American third team honors this season. The 6-foot-2 left-handed hitter led St. John’s in five offensive categories, including on-base percentage (.509), in which he also ranked 12th in the country. He is second all-time at St. John’s with a .370 average.