Wildcat Draft Action

The University of Kentucky Wildcats baseball program had a school record set for players drafted in the first five rounds of the draft.

Pitcher Scott Green and outfielders Sawyer Carroll and Collin Cowgill became the first three Kentucky players drafted in the top five rounds in program history, with Carroll and Green marking the highest drafted UK duo since 1992.

The Detroit Tigers nabbed Green with the 99th pick in the third round, Carroll was picked by the San Diego Padres in the supplemental third round with the 111th pick, and Cowgill with the 168th pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth round.[...]

Green becomes the third Wildcat to be selected by the Detroit Tigers in the last three years, joining Strieby and 2006 senior leader, Michael Bertram. Green, a 6-foot-8, 245-pound righty, appeared in 20 games with eight starts in 2008, earning a 6-4 record and a 4.76 ERA, striking out 64 in 56.2 innings, adding two saves. Green helped lead the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League to the league title in the summer, going 3-1 with a 1.56 ERA in nine games and eight starts.

Green was picked for the first time in his career in 2007 by the Red Sox in the 15th round.

Carroll, a first-team All-America selection, led the Southeastern Conference with a .419 average, belting 19 home runs and driving in a school-record 83 RBI. Finishing his two-year career as Kentucky’s career record holder for batting average (.386), Carroll added 22 doubles and a club-high three triples in 2008, swiping 12-of-12 bases. Carroll, a native of Henryetta, Okla., drew 44 walks and struck out just 33 times in 2008. In 2007, Carroll led the SEC with 23 doubles, adding three homers and 56 RBI, functioning as UK’s everyday first baseman.

Carroll, a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, was an 18th round selection of the Washington Nationals in 2007.

Cowgill had a monster season after redshirting in 2007 due to injury. A second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection, Cowgill hit .361 with 15 doubles, two triples and 19 home runs, driving in 60 RBI and swiping 23-of-27 bases. A five-tool player, Cowgill added seven outfield assists, five coming throwing runners out at the plate. Cowgill set a new UK season record, scoring 80 runs in 2008.

Before earning All-Star honors in the Cape Cod League during the summer, Cowgill was a 29th round MLB Draft pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2007.

UK also saw three of it's signees drafted in the first six rounds.

Three UK signees were also picked up early in the draft, pitchers Seth Lintz and lefty Lexington native Robbie Ross and infielder Corban Joseph. Lintz was picked No. 53 in the second round by the Milwaukee Brewers and Ross was selected No. 57 by the Texas Rangers later in the second round. Joseph, a middle infielder from Tennessee was selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round with the 140th pick.

The draft will resume today at 11:30 AM.