MLB Draft Once Again Kind To Walters State
Atlanta Braves Select Four Senators

June 6, 2008 - Morristown, TN

    The Walters State Senators tied a school record on Friday, having six players drafted in a single Major League Baseball Draft. The Senators, who went 55-9 this year and earned yet another birth in the Junior College World Series, equaled the 2006 Walters State team that had 6 players drafted.

    The most prevalent Major League Team in drafted the Senators, were the Atlanta Braves, who selected four Senators. In the past 3 seasons, the Braves have drafted ten current or former Walters State players.

    Sophomore OF Adam Milligan (Savannah, TN) got things started for the Senators on Day 1 of the two-day draft, as the Braves selected the Vanderbilt signee in the 6th round. Milligan, who finished his Walters State career with a 28-game hit streak, first player from the TJCCAA selected in this years draft, and the 13th junior college player in the country selected.

    The Braves then selected sophomore RHP David Francis (Mississauga, ONT) in the 12th round of the draft and followed that up by selecting sophomore RHP Nick Fuller (Marietta, GA) in the 25th round.

    The Cleveland Indians then broke the Braves streak of selecting Senators when they drafted freshman LHP Chad Bell (Knoxville, TN) in the 38th round.

    The Braves then struck again when they drafted freshman C Jesse Wierzbicki (Newnan, GA) in the 40th round.

    The Oakland A's finished up the Senators draft when they selected freshman 3B Cody Hawn (Knoxville, TN) in the 41st round of the draft.

    Walters State's connections with the MLB Draft did not stop with their current players. The Senators had 4 of their incoming signees selected in the draft. LHP Zac Fuesser (York, SC) was taken by the Braves in the 19th round, RHP Will Scott (Marietta, GA) was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 32nd round, RHP Michael White (Powell, TN) was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 35th round, and OF Ryan Danberry (Valdosta, GA) was selected by the Houston Astros in the 43rd round.

    Former Senator Lance McClain (2006) from Knoxville was also selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 12th round out of Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN.