DULUTH, Minn. (KQDS-TV)- It’s been seven years since the city of Duluth had a local get taken in the MLB Draft.
That streak ended on Sunday night when former Duluth East Greyhound Charlie Sutherland went to the Seattle Mariners in the 15th round.
Sutherland is the first-ever Duluth East alum to be drafted into the MLB.
Over the course of the fall and his spring season with the Gophers, Sutherland said he spoke to about half of the MLB teams. He also participated in five pre-draft workouts.
Sutherland added that with his constant communication with Seattle in the summer, he knew that they were going to be one of his potential landing spots.
“It was a roller coaster for sure. I was with my family. They were trying their best to distract me doing some activities, playing some games in the yard. But, it was obviously tough to keep my focus off the draft tracker. Yeah it was a roller coaster like I said. There were some teams that had interest earlier and decided to go a different way. But I’m super grateful to the Mariners and excited to be part of their family,” said Sutherland.
Sutherland was one of eight Gophers to be picked, that list also include’s Ashland’s Marcus Kruzan who went to the Brewers in the 12th round.
“Marcus is a good friend of mine. I was talking to those guys throughout the day congratulating them when they were picked. I was a little bit after them so I had some time to have some conversations with them and congratulate them. Texted with some Duluth (Huskies) teammates who did get picked as well and one from last year as well. Lucas Kelly, who’s with the Mariners right now so I’m looking forward to seeing him again,” added Sutherland.
Sutherland will report to the Mariners spring training complex in Arizona on Thursday and from there they will send him to one of their affiliates either later this summer or next spring.
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