Though most of the attention surrounding a draft of talented players is focused on the NFL, the Frontier League's 16 member clubs gathered in the St. Louis suburb of Sauget, Illinois, on April 24-25 to conduct their own draft - the 2023 Frontier League Tryout Camp and Draft.

The event was held for the 30th year.

A culmination of a two-day tryout, players selected during the draft are being provided with invitations to Spring Training and an opportunity to chase their baseball dreams in the largest independent baseball league in the country.

The draft positioning was determined by last year’s records, which meant the New Jersey Jackals held the fifth selection in the first round. 

New skipper P.J. Phillips used the pick to acquire Luke Hansen, a left-handed pitcher from Sacred Heart University. 

The 6-foot-3 Hansen recorded just short of 90 innings for the Pioneers from 2019-2022 and struck out 88 hitters during his time in Fairfield. 

In high school, for Southold, New York, Hansen contributed to three county championships, two Long Island championships and was named to the Axcess Baseball Top 30 Players on Long Island list.

In the second round, again selecting fifth, the Jackals added to their outfield corps with the selection of Vincent Martin. 

The Lodi, New Jersey, native attended Bergen Catholic, before matriculating to UMass Lowell. 

In 146 games for the River Hawks, he hit .291 with 18 doubles, six home runs, 48 RBIs and 79 runs scored. 

After a transfer to William Paterson, Martin exploded onto the scene, playing in 43 games. He accumulated a .339 average, 14 doubles and 39 RBIs. 

He also tallied a perfect fielding percentage, hauling in all 75 of his outfield chances and tallying five fielding assists. 

His May 8, 2022 game against Montclair State was arguably his best, as he rapped four hits, drove in five runs and scored two of his own in a 20-9 Pioneers win over MSU in the NJAC tournament.

Hansen, Martin and the rest of the 2023 New Jersey Jackals will begin Spring Training next week. 

By May 7, the Jackals must be down to 28 players on their active roster. 

By May 10, the team must have its roster pared down to between 22 and 24 active players. 

Home of the New Jersey Jackals 🦊 https://t.co/DMlqeUmTJb

— New Jersey Jackals (@JackalsBaseball) April 24, 2023

The Jackals season begins with a road trip to the New York Boulders in Pomona, New York, and the Quebec Capitales, before a split series begins with the Sussex County Miners on May 19. 

The inaugural game for the franchise at Hinchliffe Stadium follows on May 20.