June 6, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University had a number of student-athletes selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. Senior All-American outfielder Mike McKenna, senior classmate Daniel Cook and hard-throwing junior left-handed pitcher Jeff Beliveau were the first three Owls chosen. Each were taken between rounds 14-18 on the draft's second day, Friday, June 6. In the past three years FAU has had 19 different baseball players sign professional contracts.

OF Mike McKenna - Round 14, Tampa Bay Rays (413 overall)
A senior from Staten Island, New York, finished an outstanding collegiate career as the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and was named a Collegiate Baseball All-American. No player in FAU history has driven in more runs (185) or totaled more bases (436) than McKenna. He also ranks second in school history in hits (270) and fourth in home runs (41).

INF Daniel Cook - Round 15, San Francisco Giants (447 overall)
A senior from Miami, finished as a .324 career hitter in four seasons at FAU. Played third base as a senior, center field as a junior. Listed as a second baseman on MLB.com and was the 17th second baseman chosen in the draft. Chosen by the Washington Nationals in the 20th round of 2007 MLB First Year Player Draft.

LHP Jeff Beliveau - Round 18, Chicago Cubs (551 overall)
Hard-throwing junior from Johnson, Rhode Island, turned in an impressive 2008 season at FAU after transferring following two years at the College of Charleston. Emerged as the ace of the FAU pitching staff. Led the team in strikeouts (78) and innings pitched (76 2/3). Finished the regular season ranked 20th among all Division I pitchers in hits allowed per nine innings (6.4).

SS Nick Arata - Round 28, Washington Nationals (841 overall)
A junior from Davie, Florida, and Nova High School. Had a break-out junior season in 2008 earning All-Sun Belt Conference honors as the league's second-team shortstop. Eclipsed season-high marks in virtually every statistical category as a junior, batting .365 with 81 hits, 11 doubles and 13 homers.

RHP Mickey Storey - Round 31, Oakland Athletics (934 overall)
Ranks second on FAU's all-time strikeout list with 292... Tied for second for most wins (23) in school history... FAU all-time top-10 in K's per nine innings (8.54), fewest walks per nine innings (2.19), games started (42) and innings pitched (307.2)... No-hit Campbell on March 31, 2006... Collegiate Baseball 2005 National Freshman Pitcher of the Year.

LHP Alex Pepe - Round 44, Texas Rangers (1323 overall)
No pitcher was used more often in 2008 than Pepe, appearing in 28 of FAU's 60 games as a junior. He was used 24 times as a sophomore in 2007. Pepe has registered 71 K's in 84 1/3 innings during his three-year FAU career.

Past Florida Atlantic players currently under contract with MLB clubs:
Jeff Fiorentino OF- Baltimore Orioles MLB, currently on 40-man roster.
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)