June 6, 2008
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina senior left-handed pitcher Tyler Sexton and senior catcher Blake Murphy were both drafted today on day two of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Sexton was 926th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 31st round, while classmate Murphy was taken for the third time in his baseball career in the 42nd round with the 1,265th pick by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Sexton is the third Catamount baseball player drafted by the Orioles organization, and fourth overall signed by Baltimore since 1998. He joins former WCU standout Alan Beck (16th round, 464th pick) in 2003 and Chris Davidson (4th round, 129th pick) in 1998. Also, Chuck Koone (1997-98) was signed by the O's following the '98 season.
Murphy was drafted in the 37th round by the New York Yankees out of Tuscola HS, but chose to attend WCU. In last year's first-year player draft, the Waynesville, N.C., native was selected in the 50th round with the 1,435 pick by the Chicago Cubs. He is just the second Catamount all-time to be drafted by the Cardinals' organization, joining Tom Malchesky (12th round, 314th pick) back in 1988. Also, back in 1969, Jim Thompson was signed by the Cards.
All told, the Cardinals signed three SoCon players, with the Orioles inking two from the conference.
Tyler Sexton was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.  |
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Sexton finished his senior season with a 6.95 earned run average with a 4-4 overall record with a career-best four saves. However, from April 1 through the end of the year, the High Point, N.C., native pitched solely out of the bullpen, earning all four of his victories, three saves and boasted a 3.03 ERA.
In his three-year career in Cullowhee, the southpaw hurler threw 315.2 innings with 37 starts and amassed 20 wins, tied for eighth all-time in school history. His 217 career strikeouts also rank eighth in school history, while his 2.78 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks fifth all-time.
A two-time ESPN The Magazine All-District III selection, Sexton was named Western Carolina's Male Scholar Athlete of the Year at the year-end awards banquet, boasting a cumulative GPA of 3.99 while majoring in Sport Management. He was also named to the Spring Academic All-Southern Conference team for a second-straight season.
Blake Murphy was drafted for the third time, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals this draft. |
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Murphy concluded his playing career for the purple and gold with his name emblazoned throughout the school's record books. He played in 214 career games, tied for 14th in the school record books, and made 204 starts to rank seventh. Murphy also finished tied for fifth in career home runs (47), doubles (60), and RBI (205), scoring 190 career runs.
Last season, Murphy finished hit .358 (62-for-173) with a WCU single-season record for on-base percentage, reaching safely in 53.1-percent of his attempts. He tied his single-season, career-best with 16 home runs while also legging out 18 doubles to give him double-digit, two baggers in three-straight seasons. His career-high 22 stolen bases also ranked as the 10th-best year in school history.
Through the 50 rounds - plus a pair of compensation rounds - and 1,504 total picks of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, a total of 24 different student-athletes from the Southern Conference were selected by Major League clubs.
Western Carolina MLB Draft Picks Southern Conference MLB Draft Picks
Rd. Pick Name, School Pos. MLB Team
31 926 Tyler Sexton, WCU LHP Baltimore Orioles
42 1265 Blake Murphy, WCU C St. Louis Cardinals
Rd. Pick Name, School Pos. MLB Team
4 132 Steven Hensley, Elon RHP Seattle Mariners
6 201 Jeremie Tice, CofC 3B Cleveland Indians
9 281 Jay Jackson, Furman RHP Chicago Cubs
11 324 David Rubinstein, ASU OF Pittsburgh Pirates
12 356 Jason Rook, ASU OF Baltimore Orioles
12 368 Garrett Sherrill, ASU RHP Milwaukee Brewers
13 396 Michael Harrington, CofC OF Minnesota Twins
13 409 Michael Kohn, CofC RHP Los Angeles Angels
17 503 Jeremy Beckham, GSU 2B Tampa Bay Rays
22 672 Blake Nation, GSU RHP Seattle Mariners
25 751 Joseph Garrett, CofC LHP Washington Nationals
26 783 Chris Dove, Elon OF Texas Rangers
26 785 Chris Swauger, Citadel OF St. Louis Cardinals
29 868 Ricky Orton, UNCG 3B Florida Marlins
30 910 Chris Shehan, GSU OF Atlanta Braves
30 914 Mike Lynn, CofC RHP New York Mets
31 926 Tyler Sexton, WCU LHP Baltimore Orioles
34 1035 Matthew Gaski, UNCG 2B San Diego Padres
36 1094 Jake Goldberg, CofC RHP New York Mets
38 1160 Clay Caulfield, CofC RHP New York Yankees
42 1265 Blake Murphy, WCU C St. Louis Cardinals
44 1332 Donnie Jobe, Elon 2B Seattle Mariners
46 1382 Brandon Sizemore, CofC 2B St. Louis Cardinals
48 1433 Danny Meszaros, CofC RHP Houston Astros
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