June 7, 2004
NORFOLK, VA-The Detroit Tigers made Old Dominion University junior righthander Justin Verlander (Goochland, Va.) the second overall pick in the first roundof today's Major League baseball draft. He is now the highest Monarch ever selected, andthe fifth in the first round. Junior righthander Donnie Smith was selected in the fourthround by the St.Louis Cardinals, and shortstop Brandon Carter (Sacramento, CA.) was selectedin the 40th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This is also the highest two Monarchs have ever been drafted in the same draft. In1993 Wayne Gomes was selected in the first round, and Geoff Edsell was picked in the sixthround by the California Angels.
"This is so exciting, " said Verlander. "Since the season ended, I thought this daywould never come. It has been a very long last few days, but I am glad its' over, and now we can let the process move on from here."
Verlander is the all-time strikeout king at ODU, the Colonial Athletic Associationand the state of Virginia with 427 in 335.2 innings. He fanned a CAA, ODU and Staterecord with 151 in 105.2 innings this year, including 17 against James Madison and16 against Virginia Commonwealth. Verlander was named first team All-CAA and was one of ten semi-finals for the prestigious Roger Clemens National Pitcher of the Year award. His 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings rank him third nationally. Last summer, he was 5-1 for team USA and helped earn a silver medal in the Pan Am games.
Donnie Smith(Portsmouth, VA.) had the lowest ERA in the CAA at 2.29 and was thirdin the league in strikeouts with 99 in 86.1 innings. He also had six saves and recordeda 6-2 record with two complete games. Smith tossed a one-hitter this year against Williamand Mary.
Carter was third on the team in hitting at .309 and led the squad in runs scoredwith 37 and stolen bases with 13. He had ten doubles and hit .318 in CAA games.
Verlander joins the following past Monarchs who were selected in the first round.
Paul Mitchell (pitcher) 1971 by BaltimoreTerry Bell (catcher)1983 by Seattle (7th)Jeff Ware(pitcher)1991 by Toronto (35th sandwich round)Wayne Gomes (pitcher)1993 by Philadelphia (4th)
All four played in the major leagues.
Verlander's Career Stats
YR G/GS CG W-L IP H R ER BB SO SHO ERA2002 15/15 8 7-6 113.2 83 34 24 43 137 2 1.902003 15/15 7 7-6 116.1 94 44 31 43 139 1 2.402004 16/16 2 7-6 105.2 90 48 41 43 151 2 3.49TLS 46-46 17 21-18 335.2 267 126 96 126 427 5 2.57