Tampa Expects Record Number Of Selections In 2010 MLB Draft
June 3, 2010

Tampa Expects Record Number Of Selections In 2010 MLB Draft

TAMPA, Fla. - A continued parade of players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft is expected to follow its trend for head coach Joe Urso and his University of Tampa baseball team. The program looks to have 10 players chosen in the draft, which would set a school record.

"This is very exciting for the UT baseball program to have a chance to send out a record number of players to professional baseball," says Urso. "It is a testiment to the program's continued success in the MLB Draft."

The draft, which will be held in Secaucus, N.J., is scheduled to begin on Mon., June 7 and conclude on Wed., June 9. The first round is slated for Monday at 6 pm with rounds two through 30 set for Tuesday and 31 to 50 to follow on Wednesday. The selections will begin at noon on Tuesday and Wednesday. Fans may follow through the DraftTracker on mlb.com.

The Spartans have had a player selected in the MLB Draft for a string of seven straight years, dating back to the 2003 season. With 18 players chosen in the past four years, the 2010 team expects to break the previous record of six selections from 2007.

"The draft will continue to show the strength of our program on a national level," says Urso. "The scouts continue to respect the type of player that comes out of our program and shows the stability of this program that has been intact for many years."

Among the UT players who could be chosen are Sean Bierman, Josh Bowman, Mike Blanke, Dylan Brown, Tyler Cox, Correy Figueroa, Carmine Giardina, Devin Gonzalez, A.J. Pinera, Brad Roberts, Mike Schwartz, Jared Simon and John Wiedenbauer.

"Scouts showed up in record numbers this year," says Urso. "With the number of selections we expect, it puts us in an elite group among all college programs. One of the compliments we continue to get is that our players are ready for pro ball when they get into an organization."

For continued MLB Draft coverage on Tampa players, please visit www.tampaspartans.com throughout the scheduled draft dates.