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Six Bulldogs Selected in MLB Draft
June 7, 2008
RUSTON, La. - Six members of the 2008 Louisiana Tech baseball team were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday, marking the largest draft class in Tech baseball history. The following Bulldogs were selected:
The six Bulldogs selected gives Louisiana Tech its biggest draft class ever according to Baseball-Reference.com, topping the group of five players that were drafted following the 1987 season. That draft saw Tech greats Charlie Montoyo, David Segui and Richie LeBlanc selected along with Kevin Pickens and Pat Moore. Burnett, a junior righthander from Carthage, Texas, fought injuries during the 2008 season and struggled to an 0-4 record with an 8.41 earned run average. However, his WAC-leading 115 strikeouts in 2007 combined with his dominance in the prestigious Cape Cod League last summer were attractive to pro scouts, leading to his being selected relatively high. Goulder led the Bulldogs with 14 home runs in 2008 and finished the year with a .303 average and 39 RBIs. The senior from Scottsdale, Ariz., was also one of Tech's most sure-handed fielders with a .989 fielding percentage at first base. Jones, a junior from Corinth, Texas, has been one of the most versatile players in recent Tech history as his bat and his arm have led the `Dawgs to many victories over the past three seasons. The first-team All-WAC selection led Tech with a .364 average in 2008 and smacked 13 home runs along with 46 RBI. He also tied for the squad lead with five pitching wins and had a 5.80 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched. Cobb finished his career among the top 10 in several career offensive categories at Louisiana Tech, including hits, doubles, triples and games played. The senior from Ashdown, Ark., batted .333 on the year with eight home runs and drove in an impressive 38 runs with most of his at-bats coming in a leadoff role. Knotts, a senior from Shreveport, established himself as Tech's most consistent pitcher midway through the 2008 campaign, finishing 3-3 with a 4.74 ERA. He led the way with 57 strikeouts in 57.0 innings pitched while walking only 20 batters and allowing opponents to bat just .265 against him. Moseley was drafted for the third time, improving his position by two rounds over his 50th-round selection in 2007. The junior from Texarkana, Ark., had one win during the 2008 season with a 6.43 ERA and 23 strikeouts. The six-man draft class brings the total of Tech players drafted under coach Wade Simoneaux to 10. Christopher Robinson (2003), Bradley Chedister (2004) and Brian Rike and Moseley (2007) were the other Bulldogs that have been drafted under Simoneaux's watch. |
