Six Commodores taken in baseball draft

by SID

Six Vanderbilt players were selected in the 2010 Major League Amateur Baseball Draft held over three days earlier this week.

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Aaron Westlake selected in MLB Draft

By Travis Young

Vanderbilt redshirt-sophomore Aaron Westlake was just drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. Westlake was the 11th pick in the 22nd round.

The sweet swinging left-handed bat has had solid year for the Commodores in 2010, leading the team in home runs (14) and RBI (58). Westlake is fresh off an NCAA Louisville Regional All-Tournament Team selections after hitting .300 with 7 RBI and a pair of clutch home runs at the Regional.

Westlake joins Drew Hayes as the two Commodores that have been drafted thus far.

Drew Hayes selected in MLB Draft

By Travis Young

Vanderbilt right-handed pitcher Drew Hayes was just drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 11th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. Hayes, a senior righthander out of McKenzie, Tenn., was the 12th pick of the 11th round and the 337th overall selection in this year's draft.

Hayes is the first Commodore to be drafted this year, snapping a three-year run where VU had five players picked in the first-round of the draft.

This season, Hayes is 6-0 with a 4.25 ERA, including 46 strikeouts in 48.2 innings. Opponents are hitting just .226 off him this season. Hayes has given up just one hit over his last 8.2 innings pitched (six outings) including two and two-thirds innings today against Illinois State. With a fastball that sits in the mid-90's Hayes is projected as reliever at the next level.

Major League Draft and the Commodores

by SID

For the first time since 2006, don't expect Vanderbilt to have a player drafted in the first round of Major League's Amateur Baseball Draft that starts tonight.

According to Baseball America's draft preview, VU players to watch over the next three days (First round and supplemental round today) are as follows:

Rank of Players In Tennessee
7. Taylor Hill, rhp, Vanderbilt
11. Russell Brewer, rhp, Vanderbilt
12. Drew Hayes, rhp, Vanderbilt
16. Chase Reid, rhp, Vanderbilt
18. Aaron Westlake, 1b/of, Vanderbilt
21. Curt Casali, c/1b, Vanderbilt

Fifth-year seniors Brian Harris and Andrew Giobbi should also get an opportunity to play at the next level.

Although it could be a down year for the draft for current Commodores, it could be good news for the 2011 Vanderbilt team with guys potentially coming back to improve on their draft status.

The first-round no-show will be short-lived though, as next year the Commodores will have at least three guys projected to go early in 2011 in right-handed pitchers Sonny Gray and Jack Armstrong and third baseman Jason Esposito.