Four Jayhawks Selected in Major League Draft
June 8, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Four Jayhawks were selected in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. This marks the fourth straight year that KU has had four or more players selected in the draft.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
KU’s draftees are listed below:
Zach Ashwood
Chicago Cubs
16th Round/487 Overall
The Colony, Texas (TCU)
Jr./LHP
Zach Ashwood went 4-4 this past season with KU, posting a 5.77 ERA in 12 starts. The junior transferred from TCU, where he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career. A native of The Colony, Texas, Ashwood was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 26th round of the 2004 MLB draft, but opted to go to college instead.
Kyle Murphy
Texas Rangers
19th Round/590 Overall
Beloit, Wis. (Indian Hills CC)
Sr./OF
Kyle Murphy hit .332 during his senior season at KU with 15 doubles, four triples and four home runs. After hitting ninth in the order during the first few weeks of the season, the senior center fielder moved to the leadoff spot an excelled. Once conference play started on March 16, Murphy’s season batting average never dipped below .300. He led the team with 71 hits, 50 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. He also had a team-high nine outfield assists.
Brock Simpson
Cleveland Indians
46th Round/1358 Overall
Topeka, Kan. (Washburn Rural)
Jr./OF
Junior Brock Simpson hit .256 during his third season at KU with eight doubles, four triples and three home runs. Simpson, a Topeka, Kan., native, set career highs in RBIs (42), runs scored (39) and stolen bases (13) this season. During his career at KU, the right fielder hit .270 with 20 doubles, 11 triples and six home runs. He also stole 18 bases.
Erik Morrison
Pittsburgh Pirates
49th Round/1415 Overall
Arroyo Grande, Calif. (Arroyo Grande)
Jr./SS
After a slow start, Erik Morrison surged in the second half of the season and finished with a .296 batting average, a team-high 17 doubles, seven homers and tied for the team lead with 44 RBIs. The junior infielder also stole six bases. Morrison, who was one of six Jayhawks named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, has raised his batting average in each of his three collegiate seasons. Morrison holds a .270 career average at KU with 120 runs scored, 132 RBIs, 179 hits. The junior is tied for sixth all-time at KU with 24 career home runs.
