June 6, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Grayson Garvin has been selected 59th overall by Tampa Bay in the supplemental first round in the Major League Baseball draft Monday night.
Garvin is the second Commodore to be drafted along with teammate Sonny Gray (18th overall to Oakland) in the 2011 draft. The duo becomes the first Vanderbilt teammates to be drafted in the first round since 2008 when Pedro Alvarez was selected second overall by Pittsburgh and Ryan Flaherty was picked by the Chicago Cubs in the supplemental first round. Garvin is the eighth first round pick for Head Coach Tim Corbin since his arrival at Vanderbilt and 15th in school history.
Garvin started only three games in the first two years of his Vanderbilt career, but following an outstanding summer in the Cape Cod League for which he was named the league’s top pitcher, he began his junior season as the Commodores’ Saturday starter. Garvin responded with a standout spring for Vanderbilt, setting the school record for wins in a season after his team’s victory over Troy on Saturday improved his record to 13-1.
In 16 starts in 2011, Garvin has thrown 102.1 innings and accumulated an ERA of 2.37. His perfect Southeastern Conference record was highlighted by victories over South Carolina and Florida in the regular season and a win over Arkansas in Hoover, Ala., that sent his team to the SEC Tournament final. He sits second on the team only to Sonny Gray in strikeouts and innings pitched. For his efforts this season, he was named a second team All-American by Louisville Slugger, first team All-SEC and SEC Pitcher of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches at the end of the regular season. He is the only player to ever go 10-0 in SEC play.
Garvin saw his role expand from his first year on campus to his second, appearing primarily in long relief situations and making a significant contribution to his team’s 2010 run to a Super Regional. His ERA of 1.25 in 2010 was the lowest of any Commodore pitcher with 10 appearances or more. Garvin finished his sophomore season with 38 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 36 innings and one save. After Vanderbilt forced a second game in the Regional final against Louisville, Garvin was called upon to start with the season on the line and delivered six shutout innings in his team’s 3-2 victory over the Cardinals in extra innings. The next weekend, he helped the Commodores even their Super Regional series with Florida State when he pitched three shutout innings in relief of starter Sonny Gray.
Garvin’s selection by Tampa Bay marks the second time he has been drafted after the Houston Astros took him in the 45th round out of high school. Garvin joins the same organization that drafted former Commodore David Price with the first overall pick in 2007.
The MLB Draft wraps up Tuesday and can be heard on mlb.com.
