Kalkowski Taken by Kansas City in 2011 MLB Draft

Sophomore Kash Kalkowski became the third and final Husker selected in the 2011 MLB Draft as he was taken in the 50th round by Kansas City on Wednesday afternoon.

An outfielder from Grand Island, Neb., Kalkowski was selected by the Royals as a third baseman. His selection gives the Nebraska baseball program at least three draftees for the 13th consecutive year. Cody Asche (4th round, Philadelphia Phillies) and Casey Hauptman (26th round, New York Mets) were drafted Tuesday.

A former pitcher, Kalkowski underwent two shoulder surgeries and was moved to the outfield during his third season with the Huskers. He quickly developed into one of the best players in the league, earning honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors by hitting .299, while ranking second on the team behind Asche with five home runs and 42 RBIs. He was effective on the base paths, stealing 11 bases in 13 attempts and was hit by 16 pitches, the ninth-most in single-season school history.

It marks the second time Kalkowski has been drafted, as he was selected in the 49th round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rays. Kalkowski was named the 2008 Gatorade and Louisville Slugger Nebraska Player of the Year.

Kalkowski is playing summer ball for the East Texas Pump Jacks in the Texas Collegiate League.