Baseball: Draft Memorable for Robichaux Family

Baseball: Draft Memorable for Robichaux Family

Baseball: Draft Memorable for Robichaux Family

Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com Louisiana head coach Tony Robichaux received a call on Wednesday that his son Austin was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 50th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

 

The 2011 edition of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft will be one that University of Louisiana head baseball coach Tony Robichaux and his family treasure for years to come.

Tony Robichaux, a baseball player in his own right and currently the head coach of UL’s Ragin’ Cajuns, raised his two sons Justin and Austin in the game of baseball. Justin went on to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns under his father’s direction from 2007-10 and Austin is in line to do so as well.

On Wednesday, for the first time the Robichaux family fielded a call from a Major League team informing them that one of coach Robichaux’s boys had been drafted.

Austin Robichaux, who signed a national letter of intent to play for his father Tony beginning in 2012, was selected in the 50^th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Cincinnati Reds using the 1,524^th overall pick.

"I told Austin going into the draft that it’s an honor and privilege to be drafted," Tony Robichaux said. "Each year the Major League teams combined draft approximately 1,500 players in the United States, so to be among the select few is a special honor for him and our family.

"We understood that his chances of signing weren’t great because he signed to play college baseball for his father," Robichaux added. "We appreciate the Cincinnati Reds for believing in him. They’re now going to follow his progress and go from there…that’s the way we’re handling it."

Austin Robichaux, the youngest of three children in the Robichaux family, picked up District 5-3A MVP and repeat Class 3A first team all-state honors after sporting a 0.37 ERA and 10-1 mark while striking out 98 batters in 75 innings during his senior campaign at Notre Dame High School in Crowley.

Prior to his senior season, the lanky righty helped Notre Dame to the Class 3A state title in 2010 and earned first team All-State honors.

Robichaux was also an All-Acadiana honoree during his junior campaign as he posted a 9-3 record with a 0.98 ERA in 78 1/3 innings of work. He recorded 101 strikeouts and allowed only 42 hits and 25 walks.

— Ragin’ Cajuns —