Post by elp525 on Jun 7, 2011 22:05:45 GMT -5
June 7, 2011
By Tommy R. Atkinson
The Charleston Gazette
West Virginia University shortstop Grant Buckner, a former Herbert Hoover High School standout, was drafted in the 26th round Tuesday by the Chicago White Sox on the second day of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft.
Marshall left-handed pitcher Greg Williams was also selected in the 12th round by the Texas Rangers in addition to teammates Rhett Stafford, who was chosen in the 22nd round by the Oakland Athletics, and Michael Mason, a left-hander pitcher who was taken in the 23rd round by the Rangers. The remainder of the draft, including rounds 31-50, will wrap up today beginning at noon.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Buckner, who was selected with the 801st overall pick, led the Mountaineers in batting average (.364), runs (48), hits (76), home runs (8) and RBIs (46) in earning an All-Big East third-team selection after his senior season. He also had 14 doubles, one triple and 20 walks.
The Elkview resident also captured the conference batting title, hitting .437 in league play. Buckner ended his WVU career sixth all-time in hits (232), ninth in at-bats (672), eighth in RBIs (149), fourth in doubles (58), seventh in extra-base hits (81) and ninth in multi-hit games (64).
"We're very proud of Grant and very happy for him and his family,'' said WVU coach Greg Van Zant. "[The White Sox] have just gotten one of the best kids in America.
"He's a great young man. He's got a lot of talent. He's very strong and durable and very versatile. I think he'll make a minor league manager very happy.''
Van Zant said Buckner has the intangibles to become a major-league player.
"I think he's got a shot at it,'' said the WVU coach. "The guys that hit move on. I think what gives him a better chance than a lot of guys is that he's got every intangible working for him. If he doesn't make it, it won't be because of some off-the-field issue.
"He's intelligent. He'll be a guy that's prepared on a daily basis. He's been with us for five years and he goes about his business very professionally. He's dependable. He just does all the kinds of things you'd hope your son would do.''
The 384th overall pick, Williams is the highest Marshall draft pick in the 28 years since pitcher Jeff Montgomery was taken in the ninth round in 1983. The 6-4, 205-pound Williams was drafted in the 31st round in 2008 out of Cincinnati Moeller High School but came to Marshall.
As a prep junior in 2007, he had 0.15 earned run average in 451/3 innings, though that slipped to 2.49 in 561/3 as a senior. Williams, who completed his junior season at Marshall, was 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA this year in 11 appearances, including three starts. He struck out 17 in 17 innings.
Stafford, a 6-foot-3, 231-pound junior who was taken with the 676th pick, paced Marshall in home runs (10), RBIs (41) and slugging percentage (.560). The Cheraw, S.C., native, who was not drafted out of high school, carried a career-best .320 batting average. Stafford is versatile, playing in the outfield and catcher during his Herd career.
The 6-2, 196-pound Mason, who was snagged in the 23rd round with the 714th overall pick, served as the Saturday starter for the Herd over the past two seasons and produced a breakout year this past season.
The Maumee, Ohio, native, finished his junior year with a 3-3 record, firing a team-best 781/3 innings with 65 strikeouts. Mason surpassed the 100-strikeout plateau for his career and collected 157 over the past three years. He was not drafted out of high school.
By Tommy R. Atkinson
The Charleston Gazette
West Virginia University shortstop Grant Buckner, a former Herbert Hoover High School standout, was drafted in the 26th round Tuesday by the Chicago White Sox on the second day of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft.
Marshall left-handed pitcher Greg Williams was also selected in the 12th round by the Texas Rangers in addition to teammates Rhett Stafford, who was chosen in the 22nd round by the Oakland Athletics, and Michael Mason, a left-hander pitcher who was taken in the 23rd round by the Rangers. The remainder of the draft, including rounds 31-50, will wrap up today beginning at noon.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Buckner, who was selected with the 801st overall pick, led the Mountaineers in batting average (.364), runs (48), hits (76), home runs (8) and RBIs (46) in earning an All-Big East third-team selection after his senior season. He also had 14 doubles, one triple and 20 walks.
The Elkview resident also captured the conference batting title, hitting .437 in league play. Buckner ended his WVU career sixth all-time in hits (232), ninth in at-bats (672), eighth in RBIs (149), fourth in doubles (58), seventh in extra-base hits (81) and ninth in multi-hit games (64).
"We're very proud of Grant and very happy for him and his family,'' said WVU coach Greg Van Zant. "[The White Sox] have just gotten one of the best kids in America.
"He's a great young man. He's got a lot of talent. He's very strong and durable and very versatile. I think he'll make a minor league manager very happy.''
Van Zant said Buckner has the intangibles to become a major-league player.
"I think he's got a shot at it,'' said the WVU coach. "The guys that hit move on. I think what gives him a better chance than a lot of guys is that he's got every intangible working for him. If he doesn't make it, it won't be because of some off-the-field issue.
"He's intelligent. He'll be a guy that's prepared on a daily basis. He's been with us for five years and he goes about his business very professionally. He's dependable. He just does all the kinds of things you'd hope your son would do.''
The 384th overall pick, Williams is the highest Marshall draft pick in the 28 years since pitcher Jeff Montgomery was taken in the ninth round in 1983. The 6-4, 205-pound Williams was drafted in the 31st round in 2008 out of Cincinnati Moeller High School but came to Marshall.
As a prep junior in 2007, he had 0.15 earned run average in 451/3 innings, though that slipped to 2.49 in 561/3 as a senior. Williams, who completed his junior season at Marshall, was 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA this year in 11 appearances, including three starts. He struck out 17 in 17 innings.
Stafford, a 6-foot-3, 231-pound junior who was taken with the 676th pick, paced Marshall in home runs (10), RBIs (41) and slugging percentage (.560). The Cheraw, S.C., native, who was not drafted out of high school, carried a career-best .320 batting average. Stafford is versatile, playing in the outfield and catcher during his Herd career.
The 6-2, 196-pound Mason, who was snagged in the 23rd round with the 714th overall pick, served as the Saturday starter for the Herd over the past two seasons and produced a breakout year this past season.
The Maumee, Ohio, native, finished his junior year with a 3-3 record, firing a team-best 781/3 innings with 65 strikeouts. Mason surpassed the 100-strikeout plateau for his career and collected 157 over the past three years. He was not drafted out of high school.
