Diamond Dogs' Draft Class Grows To Eight With Addition Of Nicholas, Blakeney And Mungle
Joining the five Bulldogs chosen during yesterday's draft-opening selections are red-shirt sophomore pitcher Todd Nicholas of Greenville, Ala., senior right-handed pitcher Jacob Blakeney of Brandon, Miss., and redshirt sophomore outfielder Jon Mungle of Germantown, Tenn. Nicholas was taken in the 21st round by Cincinnati, Blakeney in the 22nd round by Atlanta and Mungle in the 23rd round by Milwaukee.
Wednesday's draftees bring to a school-record eight the number of Diamond Dogs chosen in this year's professional baseball draft. Seven MSU players were selected in pro baseball's June drafts in 1985 and 1989
Nicholas, a weekend rotation starter for much of the season, posted a 5-4 record and a 4.47 earned run average in 2003. He ranked fourth on the staff with 46 strikeouts in 52.1 innings.
Blakeney made 11 appearances in 2003, finishing with a 3-0 record and 4.50 earned run average. He drew three starts, including a solid 4-2/3-inning, five-hit performance in last Sunday's NCAA regional championship game against North Carolina.
Mungle, in his first full season as MSU's starter in left field, drew 58 starts while hitting .260. He finished tied for second on the team with seven home runs and tied for fourth with 35 runs batted in.
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)
LHP-Todd Nicholas (21st round, 621st pick - Cincinnati)
RHP-Jacob Blakeney (22nd round, 667th pick - Atlanta)
OF-Jon Mungle (23rd round, 669th pick - Milwaukee)