For three Iowa baseball players — one incoming and two seniors — the dream of playing in the major leagues just got a lot closer.    

Incoming freshman Kendall Coleman joined seniors Andrew Hanse and Matt Dermody as the three Hawkeye ballplayers who were selected in the 11th, 22nd, and 29th rounds, respectively, of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on June 8.

Coleman, drafted by the New York Yankees as the 344th pick, initially committed to play for the Hawkeyes in the upcoming season. Coleman now has a choice to either sign a contract with the Yankees or to play for the Hawkeyes. The Rockwall, Texas, native earned preseason All-America honorable-mention honors in 2012.

Hanse, a right-handed pitcher from Marion, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays as the 668th pick. Hanse posted a 3-4 record with a 4.30 ERA for the Hawkeyes in 46 innings during his senior year. He appeared as a relief pitcher in majority of those appearances.

For the left-handed pitcher Dermody, being chosen in the draft has become a common occurrence. Dermody was previously drafted in the 2009, 2011, and 2012. In ’09, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Dermody in the 26th round. In ’11, the Colorado Rockies took him in the 29th round, and in 2012, the Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Dermody in the 23rd round.

On June 8, the Norwalk, Iowa, native went 835th overall to the Toronto Blue Jays. Dermody finished a successful 2013 season with a 7-2 record and a 3.64 ERA in 94 innings as a starter. He also struck out 68 batters, good for fifth best in the Big Ten.