SECAUCUS, N.J. - Two Millersville University senior pitchers were selected in the closing rounds of the MLB Draft Wednesday. The Milwaukee Brewers picked Eli Nabholz in the 38th round, and 20 picks later, in the 39th, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Daniel Ross. 

Tyler Yankosky, who was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 19th round, Nabholz and Ross give Millersville three draft picks in the same season for the second time. It is the first time that three Millersville pitchers were drafted in the same year. 

Nabholz pitched for the Marauders for three seasons, winning the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year award twice and becoming one of two Marauder pitchers ever to be named All-Atlantic Region First Team three times. Nabholz was a workhorse for the Marauders, going 24-8 with a 2.74 ERA, totaling 246 2/3 innings in 43 starts. He led the Marauders in wins and innings pitched in three consecutive seasons and tied the Millersville career record for strikeouts (265). 

Nabholz transferred to Millersville after one season at Penn State, and scouts had been interested in his abilities for some time. But after a junior season in which he posted a 2.18 ERA and struck out 92 in 90 1/3 innings, he was not drafted. Nabholz remade his body in the offseason and delivered a 9-2 record, 3.10 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings in his senior season. 

"I was talking to my parents today about what we do if I didn't get drafted," said Nabholz. "We talked about all the hard work I've put in. It all started in the eighth grade with the goal of getting to this point. It has really been years and years of hard work for this opportunity."

He found out the good news standing right next to his family.

"I was with my parents and girlfriend at a local ice cream place and driving range, and we were hitting balls on the range when I got a call from Coach (Jon) Shehan, who said the Brewers had called asking if I would be interested. Right after I hung up I got a call from Milwaukee. It was kind of a surprise."

"Eli has worked so hard to hear his named picked," said Shehan. "He's had an incredible career at Millersville. All he has done is win for the past three years. To win the PSAC Pitcher of the Year award more than once is quite a feat. I'm excited to see him get his pro career started."

Mere minutes after Nabholz received word of his selection, Ross' name was called by the Pirates. Ross was tuned in to the MLB Draft live audio feed listening intently for his name but because of a lag in the feed, his father broke the news with a congratulatory text.

"My live feed was 10 seconds late," said Ross. "My dad texted me first saying 'congratulations' but I was confused because I hadn't heard my name. Then, as I hear that the Pirates are about to pick, I got the phone call telling me that I had been drafted." 

Ross' path to Millersville was long and winding. Ross was born and raised in Yokosuka, Japan. Duane, Ross' father, spent 25 years in the Navy and Ross' mother, Mihaso, is a native of Japan. Ross grew up speaking Japanese and attending Japanese schools and did not learn to speak English fluently until his senior year at Nile C. Kinnick High School, an American Department of Defense Education Activity school. Ross eventually made his way to Mechanicsburg, Pa., where his father had taken a new job. Ross was discovered pitching the West Shore Twilight League. For a look at Ross' journey to Millersville, read this feature story, written in the Spring of 2018. 

Ross spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with Millersville after transferring in from Fresno City Community College where pitched just five innings over two years because of injuries. He made 22 appearances and seven starts for the Marauders, totaling 47 2/3 innings. Ross went 3-2 with a 3.66 ERA and .235 batting average against, striking out 43. All of Ross' decisions came in the 2019 season. He started five games and struck out nearly a batter per inning. 

"I am very excited," said Ross. "I am glad that I have the opportunity to play professional baseball. This is what I have been working for the whole time but to actually live the moment is a dream come true."

"Ross has been one of the greatest stories in program history," said Shehan. "From Japan to California to Millersville, it's been a ride of ups and downs. This year, all his hard work paid off. He is a tremendously respectful young man and I'm so excited that he will get a chance to play professional baseball in the Pirates' organization.

"I would like to thank Dan Radcliffe with Pittsburgh, Bobby Myric with Washington and James Fisher with the Brewers for making today happen," said Shehan.