June 7, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia first baseman/pitcher Sean Doolittle (Tabernacle, N.J.) was selected in the supplemental first round (41st overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Thursday by the Oakland Athletics, while outfielder Brandon Guyer was a fifth round pick (157th overall) by the Chicago Cubs.
Doolittle is Virginia's highest draftee since Ryan Zimmerman was taken in the 2005 first round by the Washington Nationals. The two are the 66th and 67th Virginia players to be taken in the MLB Draft. Last season, Mike Ballard (Texas) and Tom Hagan (Pittsburgh) were selected in the draft.
Doolittle hit .301 this year with seven home runs and a team-best 53 RBI. He finished the season as the all-time leader in RBI at Virginia with 167 and tied for second in walks (125). On the mound, he went 8-3 this year with a 2.40 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings. His 22 career victories ranks No. 1 all-time in the Virginia annals, while his 243 strikeouts ranks fourth.
Doolittle has been named to the Rivals.com (second team) and Louisville Slugger (third team) All-America squads this year and also was a first-team All-ACC pick for the second-consecutive season. He was a semifinalist this season for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy.
Guyer hit .370 this year with a team-high eight home runs, 51 runs scored and 84 hits as well as 43 RBI. He also was a menace on the basepaths with 18 stolen bases in 19 attempts. In the field, he committed just one error while recording nine outfield assists.
Guyer was a first-team All-ACC pick this season. He finished the year with 53 career doubles - first all-time at Virginia. He is tied for 10th in career RBI (137) and stolen bases (45).
The draft continues through Friday.
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