The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pitchers Graffeo, Woolley Selected on Day Three Of MLB Draft
6/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 9, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A pair of UAB pitchers were taken Wednesday on the third day of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Senior Nick Graffeo went off the board in the 38th round to the Kansas City Royals, while the Texas Rangers grabbed redshirt junior Ryan Woolley in the 39th round.
The Blazers have now had three players selected in this year's draft, including senior first baseman Luke Stewart, who was chosen Tuesday in the 20th round by the New York Mets. The three draft picks tie for the most in the history of the UAB program, matching the Blazers' totals from the 1994 and 1996 drafts.
A right-hander from Overland Park, Kan., Graffeo spent the past two seasons as the Blazers' closer. The former Olney Central College transfer saved eight games as a senior this spring to bring his UAB career total to 14, tying for second on the school's all-time list.
Graffeo, who was chosen with the 1139th overall pick, struck out 76 batters in 67 innings in his time at UAB while posting a 4-4 record with a 5.10 ERA in his two years at the school. He held opponents to a .250 batting average over 42 career appearances as a Blazer.
Taken with pick No. 1186, Woolley pitched as a Blazer for the first time this spring after sitting out the 2009 season following his transfer from Georgia, where he played his first two years. The Montclair, Va., product appeared in 16 games with nine starts. He posted a 3-4 record with a 7.03 ERA, flashing a mid-90s fastball.
Woolley, who worked 64 innings and struck out 47 batters this spring, was also selected in last year's draft by the Atlanta Braves but did not sign, deciding instead to return to pitch his junior year at UAB. He has one year of college eligibility remaining.
Woolley is the first UAB player ever to be drafted by the Rangers organization, while Graffeo is the first to be selected by the Royals.
Wednesday marked the final day of the draft, which started with the opening round Monday night and continued on Tuesday. Wednesday's action included rounds 31 through 50.
