Four Eagles Selected in MLB Draft
6/6/2008 4:12:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO,
Beckham was
Nation was the 672nd pick overall, going in the 22nd round to
“It feels great. This is a life long dream. I've waited so long to achieve this goal and to finally accomplish it is a great feeling,” said Beckham.
Beckham, a four-year letterwinner, started 156 times in 179 games played, the past two years at second base. He hit .333 this season with six doubles, one home run, 41 runs scored and 25 RBI. Beckham proved to be a tough out at the plate, drawing 26 walks to only 22 strikeouts in 171 at-bats. He also led the Eagles stealing 24-of-29 bases.
As good as Beckham was offensively, he continue to build on his reputation as a defensive player. Beckman recorded a personal-best .973 fielding percentage, 14 points higher than his previous high last year.
“I felt pretty good coming into this year that I would improve defensively, that was an area I really worked on. I knew my bat would be there, I wanted to come back as strong as I had ever been defensively,” said Beckham.
Throughout his four-year career Beckham posted a .296 batting average and .945 fielding mark.
The announcement capped an exciting past two days for the Beckham family. The older Beckham was pictured on the front of MLB.com celebrating with his younger brother Tim after the Rays selected him with the first overall pick. Jeremy wasn't sure as of Friday afternoon when or where he would report to.
“It has been very exciting, the best couple of days of our lives. The atmosphere, the community being behind us... it has been great to see the community behind us and wishing us luck.”
Beckham was one of five seniors on this year's team that finished 33-25 overall and 16-11 in the Southern Conference, extending the program's streak to nine straight 30-win seasons.
“We are very happy for Jeremy. He has had a good career at
Nation turned in career-best numbers during his junior year. He finished 3-3 and led the staff with seven saves. In 24 relief appearances he posted a 5.93 ERA in 41 innings. The 6-foot, 8-inch right-hander struck out 36 batters to 15 walks allowed. In 14 of his appearances he did not allow an earned run, and actually started the 2008 campaign by throwing 10.1 scoreless innings.
In his three-year career Nation has made 39 relief appearance, recording a 6.56 ERA in 59 innings striking out 47 batters.
“They (Seattle) called me before my name was announced, asking me if this was good and I said it was fine. I was waiting, then the 20th and 21st round passed by and I was getting really nervous. Once I saw my name I was really excited,” said Nation. “Really my main goal growing up was to get a college scholarship and anything after that was icing on the cake. I'm going to take the next couple of days, weigh the Mariners' offer, talk things over with my family and decide on whether to take the offer or come back for my senior year at
Said Hennon, “This is a great opportunity for Blake. He made great strides this past year. He and his family will have a tough decision to make on his future decision. We would love to have Blake back for his senior year but I understand this is a great opportunity.”
Shehan led the way offensively for the Eagles. The Southern Conference's ?Player of the Year' (sports media association) batted .438 ? the fourth highest single-season average. The junior outfielder scored a GS record 84 runs and ranked among the season ?Top 10' in seven categories in all. He became the fifth Eagle to be named SoCon ?Player of the Year'.
Starting in all 58 games, Shehan tallied 84 runs scored (GS record), 77 RBI, 17 doubles, three triples, 22 home runs, .557 on-base percentage, 53 walks, 22-of-24 stolen bases and six outfield assists. A Third Team Academic All-District pick, Shehan recorded a team-leading 33 multi-hit games and 23 multi-RBI games. He ended year on 15-game hitting streak and earned a spot on the SoCon All-Tournament Team. If he returns for his senior year, Shehan is on pace to break several career offensive records.
A near-certain All-America performer this year, Shehan was a finalist on three different National Player of the Year award watch lists ? including one of 16 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Award. Twice named SoCon ?Player of the Week' and the league's top offensive player in March, he also earned National ?Player of the Week' honors.
