University of Memphis Athletics
Three Tigers Selected in Final Day of 2011 MLB Draft
Jun 08, 2011 | Baseball
June 8, 2011
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Day three of the First-Year Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft turned in to a busy day for the University of Memphis baseball team as three players were selected by various teams on Wednesday.
Conference USA Player of the Year Chad Zurcher was the first Tiger drafted on Wednesday with the 942nd pick overall in the 31st round to the New York Mets. Zurcher, who leads the nation with a .443 batting average, finished the 2011 campaign with 33 walks and was hit by a pitch 17 times, helping him to a nation's-best .557 on-base percentage. Zurcher recorded two or more hits in a game 29 times and produced three-or-more hits on 11 occasions. He also recorded 19 doubles, 47 runs scored, 34 RBI and stolen 12 bases. Senior catcher Phillip Chapman was selected by the Minnesota Twins in 35th round.
Chapman was the everyday backstop for the U of M and was fourth on the squad with a .321 batting average. The Clinton, Miss., native drove in 42 runs on the year and collected a team-high 21 doubles. Chapman threw out 31 percent of the attempted base stealers.
Southpaw Ryan Holland was taken in the 40th round with the 1197th pick overall by the San Francisco Giants. Holland finished the season with a 5-3 record and a 4.61 ERA in 15 starts. The Knoxville, Tenn., native picked up wins against Evansville, Eastern Kentucky, Saint Peter's, Alcorn State and Houston.
Drew Martinez (Angels-10th round) and Ben Paullus (Yankees-19th round) were selected on Tuesday in the draft and for the first time in program history, five U of M players were named in the draft. All five players drafted were not drafted out of high school and head coach Daron Schoenrock and staff has now had 12 players drafted (since 2005).
Tiger signee Keaton Aldridge was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 40th round. Aldridge remains eligible to play at the U of M if he opts not to sign with the Brewers.
