June 7, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Five members of the Big 12 and NCAA College Station Regional Champion Texas A&M baseball team were selected Tuesday during day two of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Texas A&M's John Stilson, Ross Stripling, Nick Fleece, Adam Smith and Brandon Parrent were all chosen on the second day of the draft which consisted of rounds 2-30. The draft concludes on Wednesday with rounds 31-50.
Junior right-handed pitcher John Stilson highlighted the A&M selections as he was taken in the third round by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 108th overall pick. The Texarkana, Texas, native followed up an All-American 2010 campaign with an impressive junior season as he has compiled a 5-2 record with a 1.68 ERA as the Aggies' primary Friday night starter. In 91.1 innings pitched this season Stilson has racked up 92 strikeouts and opponents are hitting just .229 against him.
Joining Stilson as a top 10 round selection was junior right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling, who was taken in the ninth round (288th overall pick) by the Colorado Rockies. The third-team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball has been outstanding for the Aggies this season and ranks among the national leaders with 13 wins on the mound. The Southlake, Texas, native has thrown 110.2 innings this season, along the way racking up four complete games while holding opponents to just a .197 batting average.
Senior Nick Fleece was a 13th round pick by the Cincinnati Reds and leads the Aggies with 32 appearances so far this season while compiling a 7-1 record with a 1.51 ERA and three saves.
Junior third baseman Adam Smith was selected by the New York Yankees in the 25th round. The Spring, Texas, product was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection and has compiled a .234 batting average with nine doubles, five home runs and 24 RBI this season.
Lefty Brandon Parrent was chosen in 30th round by the Chicago White Sox after developing into a steady producer in his first season in Aggieland after transferring from Temple College. In 23 appearances this season, he is 2-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 44.1 innings pitched.
Texas A&M baseball continues its quest for Omaha, Neb., and the College World Series this weekend when it travels to Tallahassee, Fla., to face No. 5 national seed Florida State in the Super Regional round of the 2011 NCAA Baseball Championship.