NEW YORK, NY - June 8, 2005 - Kennesaw State first baseman and part time catcher Kevin Gergel was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 24th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Wednesday afternoon.
Gergel's selection, the 713th selection overall, marks the 11th consecutive year in which Kennesaw State has had at least one player picked in the draft.
"I am very proud of Kevin and very happy for him," said head coach Mike Sansing. "He is an excellent player with a tremendous work ethic. We all wish him the best of luck with the Mariners organization and throughout his professional career."
Drafted as a catcher, Gergel is the first Kennesaw State player to be selected by the Mariners organization. Gergel is also the first Owls catcher to be drafted since Ryan Coe was taken by the Houston Astros in 1995.
Last year Gergel, a Third Team All-American selection, led the Owls in hitting with a .387 mark and was the Owls Triple Crown winner, leading KSU in home runs (13) and runs batted in with 51. he also topped the Owls in total bases (120), slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Kennesaw State Draft Picks Over Last Five Years
2004 -
*Brett Campbell, Montreal Expos
2003 -
*Grant Reynolds (Oakland Athletics)
*Adam Brandenburg (Cleveland Indians)
2002 -
Matt Pender (Detroit Tigers)
Donny Hood (Chicago Cubs)
*Lloyd Turner (Oakland Athletics)
2001 -
*Landon Stockman (Detroit Tigers)
Jamie Tricoglou (Colorado Rockies)
2000 -
*Nate Cotton (Cincinnati Reds)
Judd Ross (Cincinnati Reds)
Zach Wycoff (San Diego Padres)
*Lee Rodney (Detroit Tigers)
* On a current minor league roster as of June 2005
