Seven Rebels Taken In MLB Draft

OXFORD, Miss. Three Rebels have heard their name called on day two of the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft as Scott Bittle, Nathan Baker and Jordan Henry were all drafted in the first seven rounds of the draft on Wednesday.

A senior right-hander, Bittle was taken in the fourth round of the draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, while junior southpaw Baker was taken in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Henry, a junior outfielder, was selected in the seventh round by the Cleveland Indians.

Bittle who returned to Ole Miss for his senior season after being drafted by the Yankees a year ago had a stellar season on the mound as he helped the Rebels to a seventh-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and the SEC Championship.

The right-hander posted a 5-2 record on the year with a perfect 4-0 record as a starter in SEC play as he pitched the Rebels to wins over Kentucky, South Carolina, No. 20 Florida and No. 1 Georgia. He took no-decision in a start at No. 2 LSU that saw him work 7.0 scoreless innings and threw a complete-game shutout of Kentucky with a career-high 13 strikeouts.

Bittle missed the final six weeks of the season as he was sidelined by injury.

“It’s a great feeling (to be drafted by the Cardinals),” Bittle said. “I’m just glad the process is over. I knew (St. Louis) was a possible team that could draft me, but going into the draft you really have no idea how things will happen. (Former Rebel pitcher) Lance Lynn was one of the first people to text me. I’m glad to know someone in the organization. He loves pitching with them and that gives me confidence that I will too.”

Baker, who was drafted in the fifth round by Pittsburgh, pitched in several roles for the Rebels during his junior season as he served as both a starter and reliever. He started seven games for Ole Miss and made 20 appearances on the season as he posted a 4-3 record with a save. He notched a 3.63 ERA as he struck out 69 and walked only 16 while picking up wins over Memphis, New Orleans, UALR and Auburn. His lone save came at No. 16 Arkansas to help the Rebels to a sweep and the SEC title.

“I was actually in the shower when I found out about being drafted,” Baker said. “I had the phone on vibrate in case something happened and then it buzzed about 10 or 15 times. I thought it had to be someone else who got drafted because there was no way I would go that high. I feel very fortunate.

“This past season is the most fun I’ve ever had on a baseball field -- summer teams or anything, and that includes the Cape Cod. This team has so much team chemistry. That’s one of the things I would miss (if I were to go pro). At the moment I’m not sure at all. I can’t tell you at the moment (what I’ll decide). It’ll be a family decision.”

Henry’s name was called in the seventh round when he was selected by the Cleveland Indians. The junior outfielder was one of the top offensive performers for the Rebels and in the Southeastern Conference this season as he led the league in steals and walks. Henry set the single-season steal mark at Ole Miss with 38 steals and finished three shy of the single-season mark for walks with 56 on they year.

The outfielder started all but two games on the year and posted an on base percentage of .473 for the year and scored almost every other time he reached base. He also batted .347 in the lead-off spot and scored a team-high 70 runs on the year while driving in 31 runs.

“I'm real excited to be chosen by a great club,” Henry said. “My goal was to get to the next level and move on. But the next few days I'll talk to the Indians and decide some things. I'm very excited. It's pretty cool. I've had three great years here (at Ole Miss). It's been unbelievable. It's a win-win situation for me. I can either move on to play pro ball or I can have another fun year at Ole Miss.”

Senior southpaw Brett Bukvich was the fourth Rebel to be selected on the afternoon when he was taken by the Florida Marlins in the 18^th round. Bukvich was a leader for the Rebels in 2009 as he posted a 9-3 record pitching as both a starter and a reliever. With the nine wins, Bukvich moved into fourth on the career wins list with 24 in his time as a Rebel.

Bukvich picked up some key wins for the Rebels down the stretch with victories over No. 1 Georgia, Mississippi State, Auburn and at No. 16 Arkansas. The senior finished his career fifth in career strikeouts with 245 behind teammate Bittle.

Phillip Irwin became the fifth Rebel to be selected in the draft and second by the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was drafted in the 21st round. Irwin stated every weekend for the Rebels in 2009 and posted an 8-3 record on the year as he helped pace the Rebel pitching staff as he was second on the team in innings pitched (76.2) and strikeouts (73).

The junior picked up key wins for the Rebels as he notched victories over Arkansas State, Vermont, Vanderbilt, No. 22 Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi State, at No. 16 Arkansas, Western Kentucky and No. 5 Virginia in the Super Regional.

Button was the seventh player selected on the afternoon by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 22nd round. Button split time at second base for the Rebels this season, batting .335 for the season with 20 runs scored and 19 RBI. He also belted out five doubles, two triples and two home runs and came up with big hits, including driving in the game-tying run against No. 1 Georgia to spark an eighth-inning rally on the way to a series win.

Aaron Barrett was the final Rebel drafted on the afternoon as he was taken by the Texas Rangers in the 27th round. Barrett saw action as a starter and out of the bullpen for the Rebels as he made 14 appearances on the season and posted 33 strikeouts with only 13 walks on the year.

The MLB Draft continues throughout the afternoon before concluding on Thursday.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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