June 7, 2011
Nashville, Tenn. – Nine Vanderbilt Commodores joined first round picks Sonny Gray and Grayson Garvin on the second day of the Major League Baseball draft to bring the total to a school record 11 players, equaling the Southeastern Conference mark.
Jason Esposito was the first Dore off the board today going in the second round (64th overall) to Baltimore. Esposito enters the Super Regional against Oregon State leading the team with a .362 batting average, 55 RBI and 22 doubles. Jack Armstrong was the first of three Vandy players picked in the third round going to the Houston Astros 99th overall. The big right-hander posted a 2.65 ERA in 16 games this season. Aaron Westlake was up next going 106th to the Detroit Tigers and Corey Williams followed shortly at 117th to Minnesota. Westlake leads the team with 14 home runs and Williams was the top left-hander in the bullpen pitching in 24 games. Seniors Taylor Hill and Mark Lamm were picked in the sixth round with Hill going 187th overall to Washington and Lamm 206th overall to Atlanta. Hill fanned a career-best 13 in the Commodores’ win Sunday over Belmont to clinch the regional championship. Lamm pitched in 25 games this season after missing last year with an injury. Senior catcher Curt Casali was selected in the 10th round (317th) by Detroit. Casali has helped lead the pitching staff to a league-best 2.41 ERA while hitting .310 with 20 doubles and 50 RBI. The Atlanta Braves tabbed another Commodore in the 14th round selecting Navery Moore with the 446th overall pick. Moore matched the school record with 11 saves this season. Will Clinard’s selection in the 30th round (928th) by Minnesota wrapped up the second day of the draft for Vandy and matched the SEC record held by three teams Auburn (2010), Ole Miss (2009) and Georgia (2009).
The Commodores’ big day shattered the school record of eight players going in one draft. Vanderbilt had seen eight players selected in the draft three times previous in 2008, 2007 and 2005.
The MLB Draft wraps up tomorrow with the final 20 rounds.
Vanderbilt returns to the field beginning Friday night against Oregon State in the first-ever Super Regional at Hawkins Field. First pitch Friday night is scheduled for 7 p.m. and televised on ESPNU.