GREENSBORO, NC – Jermaine Mitchell and Patrick Currin are expected to begin their professional baseball careers on Monday, June 19 for the Vancouver Canadians of the Class A Northwest League. Both former UNC Greensboro players were selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on June 6 and 7.
Mitchell, who played centerfield for the Spartans this past season, was selected 158th overall in the fifth round, making him the second-highest draft selection in school history.
A native of Daingerfield, TX, Mitchell was a first team All-Southern Conference selection in his only season with UNCG. He led the SoCon with a .397 batting average, while also pacing the league with a .458 batting average in SoCon action. Mitchell led the Spartans in slugging percentage (.568), on-base percentage (.493), hits (93), triples (7), home runs (5), total bases (133), RBIs (41), walks (42) and stolen bases (24).
Currin was selected in the 22nd round by Oakland during the second day of the draft. A native of Chapel Hill, NC, Currin 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 hit 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.
Vancouver plays a short-season schedule that runs from mid-June to mid-September. The Canadians begin the season with a five-game series with Yakima on Monday at 10:05 pm EST.
- UNCG -