Baseball | 6/10/2015 5:44:00 PM

 
Charlton becomes the second NJIT baseball player picked in the last three years, following Mark Leiter, Jr., who went to the Phillies in the 22nd round of the 2013 draft. Leiter, in his third year as professional pitcher, is having a strong season with Clearwater, the Advanced A affiliate of the Phillies in the Florida State League (advanced A is three steps below the major leagues on the pro baseball ladder, with AA and AAA levels in between). He is 3-1 with a 1.70 earned run average for Clearwater.
 
Charlton is the first position player ever drafted out of NJIT. The two previous, Leiter and James Schak, picked by the Giants in the 22nd round of the 1973 draft, were pitchers.
 
Said NJIT head coach Brian Guiliana: "He's very deserving of this opportunity and it's great for him and great for our program. He is a talented player who worked hard and it paid off for him and for us.
 
"He was dedicated to the program and he was proud to represent the school and wear the NJIT uniform."
 
Charlton, whose primary position is center field, had a stellar career with the Highlanders, starting all 187 games he appeared in during four seasons. His career batting average was .303, with 214 hits (2nd all-time for NJIT), 45 doubles, nine triples, 18 home runs and 127 runs batted in. His career slugging percentage was .468, with an on-base percentage of .383, for a career OPS of .851. He was also a threat on the bases, stealing 49 in his career and scoring 136 runs.
 
Charlton's senior year in 2015 was his best, as he produced career-highs in batting average (.319), runs (46), home runs (9), runs batted in (38), walks (22), and slugging percentage (.569). In addition, his 30 strikeouts were the lowest in his career, nearly a third below his high, done early in his college career.
 
His 14 doubles in 2015 were one off his career-best and his three triples were one shy of the four he posted as a sophomore. His 15 steals as a senior were also one shy of the 16 he had as a sophomore.
 
His accomplishments did not go unrecognized, as he was 2012 New Jersey College Baseball Association Division I Rookie of the Year and a 2013 All-Great West Conference honoree in that league's final season of existence.
 
The Egg Harbor Township resident and graduate of St. Augustine Prep came to NJIT with a slew of honors from high school, including selection by The Star-Ledger as one of 14 players on the 2011 all-state, all groups, first team. He was also named area Player of the Year by newspapers The Press of Atlantic City and The Daily Journal of Vineland.

"This is a lifelong dream come true," said Charlton on the day of his selection by the Reds, who have slated the former Highlander to begin his pro career with their Billings, Montana affiliate in the Rookie level Pioneer League. "I'm thankful to all my coaches at NJIT and the ones before college and all my teammates, my family and my girlfriend for their help and support to help me get here."
 
Instituted in 1965, the draft is the primary mechanism for assigning amateur players from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico to the various major league teams' organizations. Players are eligible for the draft following their senior year in high school, after their junior and senior years if they attend a four-year college and at any time if they attend a two-year college.