June 20, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL - Seven student-athletes from Florida Atlantic University's 2008 baseball team are playing professional baseball for Major League affiliates this summer. FAU had six players selected on the second day of the 2008 MLB First Year Player Draft, highlighted by 14th and 15th-round selection's Mike McKenna and Daniel Cook. Two senior classmates of McKenna and Cook signed as free agents in the days following the draft.

CLICK ON THE PLAYER BELOW TO FOLLOW HIS PROGRESS...

Mike McKenna OF - Hudson Valley Renegades - Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League (Tampa Bay)
MLB Draft Round 14, Tampa Bay Rays (413 overall)

Daniel Cook 2B - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes - Class A Short-Season Northwest League (San Francisco)
MLB Draft Round 15, San Francisco Giants (447 overall)

Jeff Beliveau LHP - Arizona Extended Spring Training (soon to be assigned)
MLB Draft Round 18, Chicago Cubs (551 overall)

Nick Arata SS - Vermont Lake Monsters - Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League (Washington)
MLB Draft Round 28, Washington Nationals (841 overall)

Mickey Storey RHP - Arizona Extended Spring Training (soon to be assigned)
MLB Draft Round 31, Oakland Athletics (934 overall)

Alex Silversmith C - - Arizona Extended Spring Training (soon to be assigned)
Free agent signee

Michael Obradovich RHP - GCL Yankees - Rookie Gulf Coast League (NY Yankees)
Free agent signee

Alex Pepe LHP (did not sign, plans to return to FAU for senior season)
MLB Draft Round 44, Texas Rangers (1323 overall)

Past Florida Atlantic players currently under contract with MLB clubs:
Jeff Fiorentino OF- Baltimore Orioles MLB, currently on 40-man roster.
Carmen Cali LHP - Rochester Red Wings - Triple-A International League (Minnesota Twins)
Tommy Murphy OF - Columbus Clippers - Triple-A International League (Washington Nationals)
Tim McNab RHP - New Orleans Zephyrs - Triple-A Pacific Coast League (NY Mets)
Mike McBryde OF - San Jose Giants - Advanced A California League (San Francisco Giants)
Matt O'Brien RHP - Lakeland Flying Tigers - Advanced A Florida State League (Detroit Tigers)
Mike Crotta RHP - Lynchburg Hillcats - Advanced A Carolina League (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Justin Phillabaum RHP - Hagerstown Suns - Class A South Atlantic League (Washington Nationals)
Anthony Bradley LHP - Burlington Bees - Class A Midwest League (Kansas City Royals)
Danny Bomback 3B - Hickory Crawdads - Class A South Atlantic League (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Brandon Cooney RHP - Bluefield Orioles Rookie - Appalachian League (Baltimore Orioles)
Justin Martin C - Aberdeen IronBirds - Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League (Baltimore Orioles)
Rob Widlansky OF - Aberdeen IronBirds - Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League (Baltimore Orioles)
Chris Salberg LHP - Aberdeen IronBirds - Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League (Baltimore Orioles)