34 Players Chosen in 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft

June 9, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft came to end on Friday (June 6) and a host of NAIA players were chosen. Outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis of Azusa Pacific (Calif.) was taken first among all NAIA players at No. 100 (3^rd round). He was picked up by the New York Mets. Some of the most notable and early selections included pitcher Mike Lee of Oklahoma City in the eighth round, pitcher Richard Sullivan of Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in the 11^th round and 2008 Rawlings-NAIA Player of the Year, infielder Kyle Greene of Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in the 11^th round.

In all, 34 players on the NAIA diamond were picked up in the 50-round draft that spanned two days from the Disney Sports Complex. National champion Lewis-Clark State took home top honors among NAIA schools with five drafts.

For complete information on the Draft, click here.

2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft - NAIA (through 50 rounds)
* Listed in order of draft
1. Kirk Nieuwenhuis (CF), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - 3^rd round (No. 100), New York Mets (press release)
2. Mike Lee (RHP), Oklahoma City - 8^th round (No. 262), Boston Red Sox (press release)
3. Richard Sullivan (LHP), Savannah College of Art & Design (Ga.) - 11^th round (No. 340), Atlanta Braves (press release)
4. Kyle Greene (3B), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) - 11^th round (No. 348), Arizona Diamondbacks (press release)
5. Robert McClain (LHP), Cumberland (Tenn.) - 12^th round (No. 382), Boston Red Sox
6. Lance Janke (RHP), San Diego Christian - 14^th round (No. 419), Cincinnati Reds (press release)
7. Chris Holguin (RHP), Lubbock Christian (Texas) - 14^th round (No. 429), Toronto Blue Jays (press release)
8. Brandon Moore (RHP), Indiana Wesleyan - 14^th round (No. 434), New York Mets (press release)
9. Matt Fitts (RHP), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) - 16^th round (No. 484), Oakland Athletics (press release)
10. Josh Hester (RHP), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) - 17^th round (No. 515), St. Louis Cardinals (press release)
11. Collin McHugh (RHP), Berry (Ga.) - 18^th round (No. 554), New York Mets (press release)
12. Marty Popham (RHP), Union (Ky.) - 20^th round (No. 621), Cleveland Indians (press release)
13. Blaine Hardy (LHP), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) - 22^nd round (No. 655), Kansas City Royals (press release)
14. Chris Schwinden (RHP), Fresno Pacific (Calif.) - 22^nd round (No. 674), New York Mets (press release)
15. Jonny Bravo (LHP), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - 23^rd round (No. 695), St. Louis Cardinals (press release)
16. David Cales (RHP), St. Xavier (Ill.) - 24^th round (No. 731), Chicago Cubs
17. Carson Bryant (RHP), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - 25^th round (No. 745), Kansas City Royals
18. Brent Wyatt (SS), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) - 26^th round (No. 793), Detroit Tigers (press release)
19. Austin Adams (SS), Faulkner (Ala.) - 27^th round (No. 818), Milwaukee Brewers
20. Jordan Roberts (LHP), Embry-Riddle (Fla.) - 28^th round (No. 847), Los Angeles Dodgers (press release)
21. Jimmy Johnson (LHP), Biola (Calif.) - 28^th round (No. 854), New York Mets (press release)
22. Vladimir Frias (SS), Tennessee Wesleyan - 30^th round (No. 897), San Francisco Giants
23. Wayman Gooch (RHP), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) - 32^nd round (No. 958), Florida Marlins
24. Nick Love (RHP), Bellevue (Neb.) - 32^nd round (No. 972), Seattle Mariners
25. Buck Britton (2B), Lubbock Christian (Texas) - 35^th round (No. 1046), Baltimore Orioles (press release)
26. Clayton Dill (LHP), Missouri Baptist - 35^th round (No. 1051), Washington Nationals
27. Andrew Shive (RHP), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) - 35^th round (No. 1070), New York Yankees (press
release)
28. Gary Poynter (RHP), Lubbock Christian (Texas) - 39^th round (No. 1185), San Diego Padres (press release)
29. James McGraw (CF), Corban (Ore.) - 40^th round (No. 1203), Texas Rangers (press release)
30. Clint Preisendorfer (LHP), San Diego Christian - 42^nd round (No. 1280), New York Yankees (press release)
31. Allen Ponder (RHP), Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) - 45^th round (No. 1343), Pittsburgh Pirates
32. Ashton Florko (LHP), British Columbia - 45^th round (No. 1359), Chicago Cubs (press release)
33. Kevin Leslie (CF), Faulkner (Ala.) - 50^th round (No. 1485), Cincinnati Reds
34. Josh Hake (RHP), Park (Mo.) - 50^th round (No. 1498), Philadelphia Phillies (press release)