Beliveau

The second day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft saw three Rhode Island standouts get chosen.

Florida Atlantic pitcher and former Hendricken star Jeff Beliveau was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 18th round (550 overall).

Warwick’s John Doyle, a pitcher at Boston College, was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the 37th round (1,110 overall).

Cranston West senior pitcher Anthony Meo was taken by the Washington Nationals in the 43rd round (1,291 overall).

Beliveau, a hard-throwing left-hander from Johnston, emerged as the ace of the Florida Atlantic rotation after transferring from the College of Charleston. He led the team in strikeouts (78), innings pitched (76 2/3 ) and finished the year ranked 20th among all Division I pitchers in hits allowed per nine innings (6.4). He had a 5-4 record in 14 starts with a 4.58 ERA.

While at Hendricken, Beliveau led the Hawks to three straight Division I state titles and was named MVP of the 2005 state tournament. In his senior year, he was 10-0 with a 0.71 ERA and was named the Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year.

Doyle, who played high school baseball in New Hampshire, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2007 draft (21st round, 656 overall) but elected to return to Boston College for his senior season.

A 6-foot 4-inch right-handed pitcher, Doyle finished his senior year for the Eagles with a 3-8 record and a 6.96 ERA. He recorded 73 strikeouts and 39 walks while pitching a team-high 75 innings.

Meo, who has committed to Coastal Carolina University, led Cranston West to consecutive Division I state titles (2006-07) and a Final Four appearance this year. A 6-foot 2-inch, 190-pound All-State right-hander, Meo entered his senior season having never lost a Rhode Island Interscholastic League game.