Maj drafted by Cardinals
6/8/2007 4:00:00 AM | Baseball
ABILENE -- ACU's record-setting closer, Jameson Maj, was drafted Friday by the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.
Maj was nabbed by the Cardinals in the 45th round of the 50-round draft, going with pick No. 1,338 in the draft. Maj is the fourth ACU player to be drafted since Britt Bonneau became the Wildcats' head coach in 1997, joining Adam Thomas (19th round by Baltimore in 2001), Franki Keller (10th round by Cincinnati in 2002) and Joel Wells (21st round by New York Mets in 2006) on the list. The only other Wildcat baseball player to be drafted was pitcher Bill Gilbreth, who was drafted in the third round by Detroit in 1969.
Maj was nabbed by the Cardinals in the 45th round of the 50-round draft, going with pick No. 1,338 in the draft. Maj is the fourth ACU player to be drafted since Britt Bonneau became the Wildcats' head coach in 1997, joining Adam Thomas (19th round by Baltimore in 2001), Franki Keller (10th round by Cincinnati in 2002) and Joel Wells (21st round by New York Mets in 2006) on the list. The only other Wildcat baseball player to be drafted was pitcher Bill Gilbreth, who was drafted in the third round by Detroit in 1969.
Maj ? who last week was voted first team all-America by both the American Baseball Coaches' Association and Daktronics ? led the nation with 20 saves, tying the NCAA Division II record set by Adam Zimmerman of St. Joseph's (Ind.) in 2005. Maj finished the season with a 5-3 record and 1.00 ERA to go along with the 20 saves and 72 strikeouts in 54 innings of work. Maj was named first team all-LSC South Division and was named the division's Pitcher of the Year.
Maj was especially dominant over the last two months of the season. From March 24 through the end of the season, he appeared in 22 games (34 2/3 innings), allowing just 16 hits and two runs (both earned) while striking out 52 batters and, amazingly, walking just one batter.
Bonneau said he wasn't sure as of Friday if Maj would sign with the Cardinals, although his standout relief pitcher will meet with St. Louis officials in the next few days to see if an agreement can be worked out.
"We anticipated a couple of guys having this opportunity, so this is a great thing for our program and for Jameson to be drafted," Bonneau said. "We had to cover our bases in recruiting in case this happened, and I think we've done that. Of course, we'd love to have Jameson back in 2008 because he'll obviously be missed if he decides to go."
Maj, who is playing summer baseball in the Texas Collegiate League, was unavailable for comment Friday night.
Maj was especially dominant over the last two months of the season. From March 24 through the end of the season, he appeared in 22 games (34 2/3 innings), allowing just 16 hits and two runs (both earned) while striking out 52 batters and, amazingly, walking just one batter.
Bonneau said he wasn't sure as of Friday if Maj would sign with the Cardinals, although his standout relief pitcher will meet with St. Louis officials in the next few days to see if an agreement can be worked out.
"We anticipated a couple of guys having this opportunity, so this is a great thing for our program and for Jameson to be drafted," Bonneau said. "We had to cover our bases in recruiting in case this happened, and I think we've done that. Of course, we'd love to have Jameson back in 2008 because he'll obviously be missed if he decides to go."
Maj, who is playing summer baseball in the Texas Collegiate League, was unavailable for comment Friday night.
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