Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Three more Diamond Dogs take in MLB Draft

By on June 11, 2009

Georgia senior pitcher Will Harvil, junior catcher Joey Lewis and junior pitcher Justin Earls were selected on the final day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday, bringing the total number of Bulldogs drafted to a school-record 11.

Harvil, a native of Smyrna, Ga., was drafted in the 32nd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He went 4-3 with a 3.54 ERA and led the SEC with 37 appearances and had 41 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. Harvil won two games in 15 appearances last season and spent the previous two years at Young Harris Junior College.

Lewis, a native of Fayetteville, Ga., was picked in the 41st round by the Kansas City Royals. He hit .282 with 19 home runs and was second on the team with 58 RBI in 2009. Lewis led the Bulldogs with 19 doubles this season. He has started 165 games in his Georgia career and is batting .266.

A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Earls was drafted in the 47th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was tied for second in the SEC with 33 appearances with an 0-1 record and a 7.31 ERA. Earls has made 80 appearances in his three-year Georgia career.

Eight Bulldogs including Rich Poythress (Mariners), Trevor Holder (Nationals), Dean Weaver (Nationals), Matt Cerione (Mariners), Jeff Walters (Orioles), Michael Demperio (Angels), Alex McRee (Dodgers) and Bryce Massanari (Rockies) were taken in the first two days of the draft.