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UNCG’s Hassebrock taken in 8th round of MLB Draft
GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro junior Blake Hassebrock was selected on Tuesday as part of the second day of selections in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Hassebrock was drafted in the eighth round by the Oakland Athletics with the 245th overall pick. On Monday, the first round took place with 50 picks being made on the first day. The draft picked up on Tuesday at noon with rounds 4-30 taking place via conference call from the MLB Headquarters in New York. Rounds 31-50 will conclude the draft on Thursday starting at 12 p.m.
It marked the 14th time in the past 15 years that at least one UNCG player has been drafted. He is also the 12th pitcher in the past 14 seasons to be drafted.
"First off, I would like to thank the Oakland Athletics," said Hassebrock. "It is a humbling experience to know there is a team that has enough confidence in you to draft you. This makes my goal of playing professional baseball one step closer."
After spending his first two seasons as almost strictly a reliever, Hassebrock split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen this season. Hassebrock, who sports a low to mid 90's fastball, made 21 appearances this past season, with 11 of those being starts.
In his 21 appearances, he managed to hold his opponents to three earned runs or less 16 times. He finished second on the team this past season with 61 strikeouts in 73 innings, including 25 of those strike outs coming with the batter looking.
In perhaps his best start of the season, Hassebrock went seven innings against Princeton, while allowing just one run on three hits and striking out five batters. He had his only complete game of the season against Samford and picked up his lone save against Davidson.
Hassebrock will have until Aug. 15 to decide whether to sign a professional contract or return to UNCG for his senior season.
AGATE
UNCG PLAYERS SELECTED IN MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT
2010: Blake Hassebrock (P, 8th, Oakland)
2009: Rob Gilliam (P, 8th, Oakland)
2008: (1B, 29th, Florida), (SS, 34th, San Diego)
2007: (3B, 18th, Seattle), (P, 28th, Oakland), (P, 29th, Texas)
2006: Jermaine Mitchell (OF, 5th, Oakland), Patrick Currin (P,
22nd, Oakland)
2005: Chris Mason (P, 2nd, Tampa Bay)
2004: Jason Metger (P, 23rd, Colorado), Jarrett Santos (P, 34th,
Florida)
2003: Ryan Gordon (P, 43rd, Toronto)
2002: Everett Hancock (P, 28th, Detroit)
2001: Taft Cable (P, 8th, Philadelphia)
1999: Corey McDonald (P, 21st, Detroit)
1998: Lance Surridge (P, 13th, Boston)
1997: Lance Surridge (P, 14th, Baltimore - did not sign)
1996: Tim Giles (1B, 7th, Toronto)
1994: Tonka Maynor (OF/1B, 27th, Pittsburgh), Joey DeAngelis (1B,
33rd, Colorado), Dan Schneider (C, 36th, San Francisco)
1993: Brian Moehler (P, 6th, Detroit), Tonka Maynor (OF/1B, 47th,
Pittsburgh - did not sign)
- UNCG -
