Round 9, Pick 268: Daniel Jennings | LHP, Nebraska | SIGNED

[JJ]

[JJ]

*calling !NICK!*

[!NICK!]

And I officially have a new favorite player in our system.

[Bucklin12]

75 Ks in 77 IP in the BIG 12 this year.

.227 BAA
3.39 ERA

Nebraska's best arm besides John Dorn.

[!NICK!]

He's a guy that did a little bit of everything for the Huskers. Closed some games, started some games. Was really our 2nd best pitcher all season. I assume the Marlins are looking to use him out of the pen, that's where he really thrived this season.

[Juanky]

So we're stalking the states of Arizona and Nebraska

[Marlins#1]

"NU right-handed pitcher Aaron Pribanic (third to the Mariners) was drafted Thursday. All are seniors except Pribanic and Jennings, juniors who would rank as the top candidates to fill Dorn's No. 1 starting spot if they opt to return.

Pribanic said he's likely to sign, but Jennings isn't so sure.

He said he hoped to land in the top four rounds and that he rejected the overtures of a few clubs that called to discuss money after the start of the fifth round. Still, the Marlins took a chance.

Jennings plans to begin play next week for Cotuit, Mass., in the amateur Cape Cod League.

"My goal is to go out there and see what happens," Jennings said. "It could mean I'm coming back, but we'll just see what happens. Either way, I'm in a great situation."

[Hugg]

Baseball America

Lefthander Dan Jennings has more projection remaining than most college juniors. There's room to add strength on his 6-foot-3, 183-pound frame, and he has a quick arm and clean mechanics. His best present pitch is his slider, which is more of solid offering than a swing-and-miss weapon. His fastball ranges from 86-90 mph and he keeps it down in the strike zone. Jennings, who has shuttled between the rotation and the bullpen for Nebraska, projects as a reliever in pro ball. He had a streak of 30 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings at midseason.

[FishFanInPA]

Dan Jennings’ summer took an interesting turn Friday. But, for now, his plans remain unchanged. The Nebraska junior pitcher, selected by Florida in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft, still plans to head east in a few days to play for the Cotuit (Mass.) Kettleers in the collegiate Cape Cod League. What Jennings shows on the mound out there will go a long way toward determining whether he returns for a senior season with the Huskers or signs with the Marlins, who have until Aug. 15 to seal a deal. “I’m headed to summer ball and see what happens,” Jennings said from his parents’ West Des Moines, Iowa, home Friday afternoon. The 6-foot-3 Jennings — whose left-handed delivery helped him to a 6-3 record, with four saves and a 3.39 ERA in 23 appearances this season — thought he had a decent chance of being taken during the draft’s first six rounds Thursday. Had he gone in the top four rounds, he said the typical signing bonus players in those slots command would have made turning pro a no-brainer. Now, he’ll take some time to mull over what will definitely be one of the biggest decisions of his young life. Jennings was the 268th overall pick. A year ago, Nebraska’s Tony Watson went in the same round as the 278th pick and signed for $85,000. Florida’s ninth-round selection in 2007, a junior college player taken in the 286th spot, got a $40,000 bonus. Money aside, only three of the 30 players picked in the ninth round last year opted not to sign. “I’ve not had any life-changing decisions such as this,” Jennings acknowledged. “But as much as it seems like it’d be no big deal to go (ahead) and play in the pros, Nebraska’s such a good place. “… If I came back, it would be me thinking I could finish up a career and improve my draft stock.”

HuskerExtra.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - Huskerextra - Baseball

[Marlins#1]

Jennings is currently pitching in the Cape Cod League (In order to improve signing bonus and stock)

Here are his current stats so far.... Team Stats

Team: Cotuit

[markotsay7]

He's signed.

The Official Site of The Florida Marlins: News: Marlins sign 27 Draft picks

[!NICK!]

[Marlins#1]

Omaha.com Sports Section

NU Baseball: Jennings' departure leaves gap in rotation BY MITCH SHERMAN WORLD-HERALD BUREAU LINCOLN — The future of Nebraska's pitching staff is coming into focus after recent developments involving an ex-Husker and an NU recruit both drafted by the Florida Marlins. Left-hander Dan Jennings, a valuable starter and reliever as a junior, signed a contract with Florida late last week after making one appearance for Cotuit, Mass., in the collegiate Cape Cod League. Meanwhile, Nebraska signee Curtis Petersen of Aubrey, Texas, a fourth-round pick of the Marlins, has told the organization it has until July 15 — exactly one month before the singing deadline — to make a final offer. If Petersen doesn't like it, NU pitching coach Eric Newman said, the 6-foot-4 right-hander is headed to college. "He considers himself part of the Nebraska family," Newman said. "He wants to do right by us and not leave us high and dry. I'm feeling pretty optimistic." Such loyalty is common for a drafted player with remaining eligibility but rare for a recruit. In the case of Petersen, it's likely explained by his long relationship with Newman, who began recruiting the pitcher as head coach at Dallas Baptist about 1½ years ago. Newman came to Nebraska last summer. Petersen signed in November before finishing 12-2 with a 1.03 ERA and a Dallas-area high 127 strikeouts as a senior at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas. No freshman on a baseball scholarship has ever enrolled at Nebraska after being drafted as high as Petersen. He likely would contend for a spot immediately in a Nebraska pitching rotation now without Jennings as its potential ace. Jennings' negotiation period with the Marlins didn't take long, especially considering his disappointment after landing in the ninth round. Jennings said after the draft that he was hoping to receive a signing bonus slotted for a fourth- or fifth-round selection. "He got what he was looking for," Newman said. "Obviously we would have loved to have him back. But when it happened, I knew he would probably end up getting the money that he wants. "I'm happy for Dan. It's what he wants to do." Right-hander Aaron Pribanic, a third-round pick of the Seattle Mariners with one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, has yet to sign, but Newman said he believes it will happen before Aug. 15. Junior lefty Zach Herr (38th round to San Diego) and right-handed recruit Kash Kalkowski (49th round to Tampa Bay) are expected to play at Nebraska next year.

[Marlins#1]

145,000 is the signing bonus.