June 9, 2010
NORFOLK, VA-- Old Dominion University red-shirt junior catcher Joe Velleggia (Monkton, MD.) has been selected inthe 40th round by the Baltimore Orioles in today's MLB draft.
The 6-6, 250-pound catcher hit six homers this year with a .211 batting averageand 12 RBI. During the season, Velleggia hit a three-run homer in one game and two homers in another against Rutgers.
Velleggia hit a two-run game winning homer in the tenth inning in ODU's 15-14 win at Hofstra. Last year, he was selected in the 42nd round by the Orioles.
Two Monarch recruits for the 2011 season were also selected in the draft. 6-6righthander Cody Cox of Grassfield High school in Chesapeake, Va. was selected in the 21st round by the Chicago Cubs. 6-3 righthander/infielder Ben Verlander fromGoochland (Va.) High School ws selected in the 46th round by Detroit.