NEW YORK, NY (June 4) - Three members of the University of Connecticut
baseball team were drafted as part of the 2003 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft,
while Erik Drown was signed as a free agent.
Senior infielder Brett Burnham was selected in the 21st round, senior
left-handed pitcher/first baseman Peter Soteropoulos was drafted in
the 40th round and junior reliever Mike James was drafted in the 50th
round.
Burnham, an infielder from South Windsor, CT, was selected by the
San Diego Padres in the 21st round, with the 611 pick. Burnham
hit .317 with seven home runs and 47 RBI in 2003.
Soteropoulos, a left-handed pitcher/first baseman
from Peabody, MA, was the 1205 overall pick in the 40th round by the
St. Louis Cardinals. Soteropoulos hit .381 with 43 RBI and
posted a 7.88 ERA in 40.0 innings of work.
James, a right-handed relief pitcher from Roswell,
GA, was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 50th round, with the
1473 pick. James set the UConn single season record for saves
with 11 this season and posted a 2.93 ERA.
Drown , a right handed pitcher from Ipswich, MA,
signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Drown
posted a 6.37 ERA with two complete games and 53 strikeouts.
The Huskies tied for the conference lead with Seton
Hall and Notre Dame with three players selected in the draft.
