June 5, 2008

(San Francisco, CA) - USF left-hander Evan Fredrickson was selected by Milwaukee as the 35th overall pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. The Brewers took the tall lefty as a First Round Compensation Pick. Fredrickson is the second consecutive Don to get drafted in the First Round after left-hander Aaron Poreda was chosen by the Chicago White Sox as the 25th overall pick last year.

"I was just hoping I was going to go somewhere," Fredrickson said. "When I saw my name I couldn't have been more excited."

The 6'6" Virginia Tech transfer finished the season with a team leading 109 strikeouts in 75.1 innings, good for second overall in the West Coast Conference. Fredrickson trailed only San Diego's Brian Matusz, who went as the No. 4 overall pick to Baltimore. In his first season as a Don, Fredrickson put himself into the single season strikeout record books, tied for third with Dana Hendershott (1971). In three seasons at the Division I level, Fredrickson has struck out 177 opponents in 132.0 innings. On the season, Fredrickson went 5-3, with a 4.54 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts), with a team low .216 opponents batting average.

The Oak Hill, VA native earned West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week honors (April 1-6) for his dominating performance against No. 7 California in the 2008 Dante Benedetti Classic at AT&T Park April 1. Fredrickson threw 7.0 scoreless innings, scattering just four hits, while tossing a career high 13 strikeouts to earn his first WCC honor.

Fredrickson had four games with 11 or more strikeouts, including the 13 K performance versus Cal. On April 23, at Fresno State, he struck out 12 Bulldogs, and he fanned 11 in consecutive home starts to end the season (May 9 against then No. 8 San Diego, and May 15 against Dallas Baptist).

Head Coach Giarratano spoke about how proud he was of Fredrickson and how hard he has worked at USF. "I am extremely proud of what Evan has been able to do here at USF and about what lies ahead for him in professional baseball. He deserves ever opportunity because he has worked so hard and given so much to this program."

"We're excited for Evan and his family," said Pitching Coach Greg Moore. "It's a great story, and the story's not over. We're proud of all the hard work Evan has put in here on the Hilltop."

Diamond Dons in the Major League Draft
- Since the Major League Amateur Draft adopted its current format back in
1987, USF is the first school in the West Coast Conference to have a player drafted in the first round in back-to-back years.
- Since 2001, USF has had seven players taken in the top 10 rounds, and five of those were selected in the first three rounds:
o	2008 - LHP Evan Fredrickson, First round, Milwaukee Brewers
o	2007 - LHP Aaron Poreda, First Round, Chicago White Sox
o	2006 - LHP/OF Scott Cousins, Third Round, Florida Marlins
o	2005 - Nick Pereira, Tenth Round, San Francisco Giants
o	2002 - Steve Booth, Ninth Round, Cincinnati Reds
o	2001 - Jesse Foppert, Second Round, San Francisco Giants
o	2001 - Taggert Bozied, Third Round, San Diego Padres