Brinson, Gendron Join Opening Day Draft List
Brinson, a three-year starter from Brandon, Miss., has paced MSU in home runs and RBI the past two seasons. He batted .311 and started all 63 games this spring, matching a career-best with 75 hits, leading the club with 29 extra-base hits and 49 RBI. He has compiled a .318 career batting average with 216 hits, 166 RBI and 29 home runs.
Gendron, who joined Brinson and shortstop Matthew Maniscalco as the team's lone 63-game starters, ranked among the team's offensive leaders as a junior. He finished the year the a .333 batting average, finishing second on the club with a career-best 88 hits and 13 stolen bases, also a career-best. The three-year starter was a second-team All-SEC selection this year and was named to the all-tournament teams at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala., and the NCAA Starkville Regional held last week at Dudy Noble Field.
Mississippi State had five players ?€? four juniors and one senior, selected on opening day of the professional baseball's annual draft, which concludes Wednesday.
MSU PLAYERS IN THE 2003 MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT
LHP-Paul Maholm (1st round, 8th pick - Pittsburgh)
RHP-Jonathan Papelbon (4th round, 114th pick - Boston)
SS-Matthew Manisalco (8th round, 218th pick - Tampa Bay)
1B-Matthew Brinson (13th round, 377th pick - Colorado)
3B-Steve Gendron (14th round, 401st pick - San Diego)