| Relief pitcher Drew O'Neil was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, becoming the first Penn State player to be taken in the draft since 2005. |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; June 8, 2007 - Penn State relief pitcher Drew O??Neil (Roswell, Ga.) became the first Nittany Lion baseball player to be drafted in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft since the 2005 draft on Friday when he was drafted by the Cincinnaci Reds in the eighth round. He was the 15th pick in the eighth round and the 259th pick of the draft overall. He becomes the first Penn State player drafted since Sean Stidfole (14th round), Josh Palm (16th round) and Michael Milliron (30th round) were all drafted in the 2005 draft.
O??Neil also becomes the highest Penn State draft pick since Nate Bump went in the first round in the 1998 draft and the first Nittany Lion since Bumpto be picked in the top 10 rounds. The previous highest draft pick from Penn State since Bump in 1998 were a trio of 13th round picks in Shawn Fagan (2000), Chris Netwall (2001) and Rod Perry (2001). Additionally, O??Neil becomes the first Penn State player that was recruited by head coach Robbie Wine to be drafted.
The native of Roswell, Ga. had probably the best season for a relief pitcher in Penn State school history. He broke the school record for saves in a single season, which was previously seven, by recording 11 saves in 12 opportunities while also compiling a 4-2 record. In just one season, he also moved into a tie for second place on the Penn State career saves list, which 15 is the record. He did not allow a single run in Big Ten play this year and allowed just one earned run all year to any Big Ten teams, that coming in the conference tournament. He was unscored upon in 18 of his 23 appearances and did not allow any earned runs in 20 of his 23 appearances. Penn State picked up a win in 19 of his 23 appearances and he had a string in which he retired 23 straight hitters over nearly a month. He had a string of 19.1 consecutive scoreless innings from April 4 through May 25 and threw 22.2 straight innings without allowing an earned run at one point as well. He was named first team All-Big Ten after finishing the season with a 1.34 ERA, tops among Big Ten relievers, in 33.2 innings while striking out 21 and allowing just five earned runs on the season. In Big Ten play, he had a 0.00 ERA in 11 appearances with a 2-0 record and eight saves. He allowed just six hits while striking out 11 in 16.1 innings and held opposing Big Ten hitters to a .113 average.