| Matt Cavagnaro was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the fourth Penn Stater to be drafted this year, which is the most since 2000. He now will most likely begin his professional career in the same place he ended his college career, at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as a member of the State College Spikes. |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; June 8, 2007 - Matt Cavagnaro (Brightwaters, N.Y.) became the fourth different Penn State player to be drafted in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft this year as he was take with the fourth pick of the 21st round by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Cavagnaro, who was the 638th overall pick in the draft, will now have a chance to become the first former Penn State baseball player to play for the State College Spikes, who are entering their first year as the short season Class A affiliate of the Pirates and their second year overall as a franchise in State College.
With four players being drafted this year, it marks the most players drafted in a single draft from Penn State since the 2000 season when five different players were drafted off the team that made it all the way to NCAA Super Regionals. Cavagnaro is the first Penn Stater to be drafted by the Pirates since Clayton Hamilton was drafted by the Bucs in 2003, although Hamilton did not sign.
The senior from Brightwaters, N.Y. completed his finest season as a Nittany Lion this year, hitting .335 while starting all 57 games. He led the team in at-bats (233) and hits (78) and finished second on the team in total bases (96). The 233 at-bats ranks third all-time for a single season. He was also third on the team in slugging percentage (.412) and on-base percentage (.378). In the field, he laid claim to being one of the finest defensive fielders ever to play at Penn State as he compiled a .983 fielding percentage while playing all of his games at either second base or shortstop. He made just five errors in exactly 300 chances. His 183 defensive assists ranks second all-time in school single season history. His 78 hits also ranks third in Penn State single season history. For his career, he finished with 390 assists, which rank him in a tie for eighth in school history. He also finished his career tied for third all-time in career sacrifices with 23. Cavagnaro was also recently named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team after he hit .391 in Penn State??s five games at the conference tournament this year, the Nittany Lions?? first appearance at the conference tournament since 2004.