Willis Headed To The Cubs Organization

HARROGATE, TN – Friday was a big day for former Lincoln Memorial University outfielder TeWayne Willis (Hazard, KY).  A two-year starter for the Railsplitters, Willis was drafted by the Chicago Cubs organization on Friday in the 28^th round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Willis transferred to the Railsplitters more than two years ago from Roane State Community College.  In his first season with Lincoln Memorial, Willis became an impact player, hitting a blistering .382 from his lead-off top-of-the-order position, accumulating 68 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, one homerun and 34 RBI.  Possibly his most impressive numbers came on the base pads when he stole 42 bases in 48 attempts, setting a new single season record at Lincoln Memorial University in his first season in a Railsplitter uniform.

This spring, Willis struggled at the plate somewhat early in the year, but finished the season with a .343 batting average, while generating 61 hits, four doubles, four triples, one homerun and 27 RBI.  On the bases the eastern Kentucky speedster terrorized opponents by stealing 42 of 49 bases to tie his single-season record from the year before and to set a new LMU career stolen bases mark of 84 in only two seasons.

Willis is the first player from Head Coach Jeff Sziksai’s era as skipper of the Railsplitters to be drafted by a Major League Baseball organization and is LMU’s first player ever to be drafted by the Chicago Cubs.