UNCG's Currin selected by Oakland in 22nd round of MLB Draft

GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro senior pitcher Patrick Currin was selected in the 22nd round of the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland A’s on Wednesday.

Currin was the second Spartan in as many days to be selected by the A’s. On Tuesday, Jermaine Mitchell was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the A’s. Mitchell was the 158th player selected, making him the second-highest draft selection in school history.

Currin, a native of Chapel Hill, NC, was 10-3 with eight saves this past year, logging an ERA of 2.93. He was a second-team All-SoCon selection and also earned second-team Academic All-American honors. His 38 appearances this season tied for the third most in school history. Opponents his just .227 off him during the course of the season. His eight saves in 2006 were also the third most in school history, including a historic save when UNCG knocked off top-ranked North Carolina back on April 18.

“It has been a great day,” said Currin. “I am glad to have the opportunity to play professional baseball and look forward to getting started.

“I had heard a lot of things (as to where he might be drafted). It was just a great feeling to see my name.”

For his career, Currin’s 14 saves tied for second in school history and his 197 strikeouts ranked ninth on the UNCG all-time list. He logged 234-2/3 innings, which also ranked seventh all-time at UNCG. His 95 career relief appearances were second most in school history.

Currin, the 14th Spartan to ever be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, was scouted for Oakland by former Spartan assistant coach Neil Avent, who helped recruit Currin to UNCG.

AGATE

UNCG PLAYERS SELECTED IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT
2006: Jermaine Mitchell (OF, 5th, Oakland), Patrick Currin (P, 22nd, Oakland)
2005: Chris Mason (P, 2nd, Tampa Bay)
2004:  Jason Metger (P, 23rd, Colorado), Jarrett Santos (P, 34th, Florida)
2003: Ryan Gordon (P, 43rd, Toronto)
2001: Taft Cable (P, 8th, Philadelphia)
2000: Jason Marsh (C, 22nd, Tampa Bay)
1997: Lance Surridge (P, 18th, Baltimore)
1996: Tim Giles (1B, 20th, Toronto)
1994: Tonka Maynor (OF/1B, 27th, Pittsburgh), Joey DeAngelis (1B, 33rd, Colorado), Dan Schneider (C, 36th, San Francisco)
1993: Brian Moehler (P, 6t h, Detroit), Tonka Maynor (OF/1B, 47th, Pittsburgh – did not sign)

- UNCG -