The Philadelphia Phillies selected Ball State University starting pitcher Perci Garner in the second round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon.
Garner was the 77th overall player to be picked and is the second Cardinal to be drafted this year, joining Kolbrin Vitek. The All-American was taken 20th overall by the Boston Red Sox last night.
Before the draft, Garner was projected to be taken between the second and fifth rounds.
Garner shot up draft boards since returning to baseball after spending two years as a backup to Nate Davis at Ball State. He returned to baseball last year and was named the second best prospect in the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League by Baseball America. Only Vitek was rated higher.
Garner is a draft-eligible sophomore and could return to Ball State next year, but before the draft coach Greg Beals said he anticipated losing his All-Mid-American Conference ace. Garner has until August 16th to sign a contract or choose to return to school.
In what was may have been his final college season, Garner was 5-3 with a 4.62 ERA. He had 83 strikeouts in 73 innings. He is known as somewhat raw in the scouting community, but teams like his mid-90s fastball and well-developed slider.
For more on this story continue to read The Ball State Daily News online.
Read More
Yorktown falls to Pendleton Heights
By Zach Carter / 3 hours agoThough Yorktown sophomore Olivia Conklin had 21 points, the Tigers fell to Pendleton Heights 69-50.
Delaware County Athlete of the Week nominees
By Staff Reports / 6 hours agoHere are the Delaware County Athlete of the Week nominees from Monday, Dec. 16 to Saturday, Dec. 21.
'It's something we've always lived for:' Delta outlasts Muncie Central in overtime victory
By Zach Carter / 2 days agoDelta junior Lucas Brag led with 16 points as the Eagles defeated the Muncie Central Bearcats 49-46.
