Penn State’s Biasi Signs with Royals

Penn State junior right-hander Sal Biasi has signed with the Kansas City Royals, choosing to forego his final year of college eligibility after being selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on June 14.

Biasi signed with the club on Saturday and made his professional debut the following day with Kansas City’s rookie-level team, the AZL Royals of the Arizona League. He allowed one run and a hit with two walks and two strikeouts in two innings of work during his first professional outing.

A member of Penn State coach Rob Cooper’s first full recruiting class, Biasi became the highest draft selection of Cooper’s tenure with the Nittany Lions, which began prior to the 2014 season, and the highest Penn State draft pick since 2012.

Biasi, who went to Penn State out of Hazleton Area High School., was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2017, when he was the Nittany Lions’ most consistent starter with a 5-5 record in 14 appearances and a team-best 3.48 ERA. For his career Biasi had a 10-13 record with a 3.41 ERA over 174 innings.

He becomes the third Nittany Lion currently playing in Minor League Baseball. Jim Haley was selected by the Tampa Rays in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB Draft and is currently with their single-A advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs in Port Charlotte, Fla. Jack Anderson was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of last year’s draft and is currently pitching with their single A Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings.

Biasi’s younger brother, Dante, is a rising junior for the Nittany Lions. He turned down a 22nd round selection by the Chicago Cubs in last year’s draft and is perhaps Penn State’s top prospect heading into next season.