DENVER - Major League Baseball completed its annual First-Year Player draft today and 20 WAC baseball players were picked. Both Rice and Fresno State had six players drafted, while Rice had three pitchers taken in the first eight picks overall. Hawaii and San Jose State had three players selected, while Nevada and Louisiana Tech had one each.
Along with Fresno State outfielder Richie Robnett, the WAC had a total of four drafted in the first round. Only the SEC had as many taken in the first 30 picks of the first round.
The New York Mets took Rice's Philip Humber with the third overall pick of the draft, while Owl Jeff Niemann was taken next by Tampa Bay. Baltimore selected Wade Townsend with the eighth pick. Robnett was taken 24th overall by Oakland.
Two more WAC pitchers went next as San Jose State's Matt Durkin was a second round selection of the Mets while Rice's Josh Baker was taken in the fourth round by Milwaukee.
Rice had two more players selected in the following rounds as shortstop Paul Janish was drafted by Cincinnati in the fifth round and outfielder Chris Kolkhorst was picked by San Diego in the 10th round.
Several first team All-WAC players were drafted as well including: Humber, Townsend, Robnett, Janish, Kolkhorst, Kevin Frandsen (San Jose State-2B) and Ryan Haag (Fresno State-2B).
Rd.-Pick, Name, Pos., School, Team1-3, Philip Humber, P, Rice, NY Mets
1-4, Jeff Niemann, P, Rice, Tampa Bay
1-8, Wade Townsend, P, Rice, Baltimore
1-26, Richie Robnett, OF, Fresno St., Oakland
2-44, Matt Durkin, P, San Jose St., NY Mets
4-106, Josh Baker, P, Rice, Milwaukee
5-138, Paul Janish, SS, Rice, Cincinnati
10-292, Chris Kolkhorst, OF, Rice, San Diego
12-370, Kevin Frandsen, 2B, San Jose St., San Francisco
15-437, Brian Finegan, SS, Hawaii, Cleveland
16-489, Ryan Haag, 2B, Fresno State, NY Yankees
19-557, Chris Gimenez, OF, Nevada, Cleveland
26-770, Kyle Wilson, C, Fresno State, Colorado
30-888, David Griffin, P, Fresno State Cincinnati
30-900, Brandon Marcelli, C, Fresno State, St. Louis
33-992, Clary Carlsen, P, Hawaii, Philadelphia
37-1110, Chris Patrick, SS, Fresno State, St. Louis
37-1114, Brad Chedister, P, Louisiana Tech, Houston
38-1127, Jose Amaya, P, San Jose State, Cleveland
38-1145, Colby Summer, P, Hawaii, Boston