Two More Jayhawks Selected on Final Day of MLB Amateur Draft
June 11, 2009
SECAUCUS, N.J. –
Kansas senior right-handed pitcher Paul Smyth and junior outfielder Brian Heere were both selected on the final day of the 2009 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Smyth was taken in the 35th round by the Oakland Athletics with pick No. 1,053, while Heere was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 48th round with pick No. 1,458.
Overall, KU had four players drafted this week: David Narodowski (15th round, Arizona), Shaeffer Hall (25th round, New York Yankees), Smyth and Heere.
Smyth, a senior right-handed pitcher from Atascadero, Calif., recorded nine saves in his senior season, giving him 27 in his Jayhawk career. Smyth struggled early in the season but posted a 3.00 ERA in Big 12 games, and did not have a blown save over the final two months of the year. The senior tallied 19 strikeouts in 30 innings of relief and held opponents to a .279 batting average. He was named First Team Academic All-Big 12 for the second straight season.
Heere, a redshirt sophomore outfielder from Lawrence, Kan., was made draft eligible because he has been at KU for three seasons. Heere enjoyed a break-out season in 2009, batting .364 with 12 doubles, five homers and 40 RBIs. The Jayhawk right fielder tied for the team lead in triples (four) and led the team in on-base percentage (.459), drawing 39 walks in 62 games. He was named Second Team All-Big 12 as well as to the NCAA Chapel Hill Region All-Tournament Team this season. If he does not agree to a contract with the Red Sox organization by Aug. 15, Heere is eligible to return to Kansas for his junior season.
The four Jayhawks selected match the team’s total from each of the last two seasons.
In addition to having four current players selected, Kansas signees Shawn Blackwell (24th round, Texas) and Tanner Poppe (37th round, Kansas City) were also drafted.
Kansas Players Drafted in 2009:
Player Round (Pick) Organization
David Narodowski 15 (456) Arizona Diamondbacks
*Shawn Blackwell 24 (724) Texas Rangers
Shaeffer Hall 25 (765) New York Yankees
Paul Smyth 35 (1053) Oakland Athletics
*Tanner Poppe 37 (1112) Kansas City Royals
Brian Heere 48 (1458) Boston Red Sox
* – 2009 Signee
