Bowling Green, Ky. After a record six Hilltoppers were drafted in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft this month, four of the six players have already begun their professional careers, joining three other former Toppers who are currently in various farm systems.
Tanner Townsend, a 2002 All-Sun Belt Conference selection with WKU was signed in 2002 by the San Diego Padres, playing one year with the organization before moving to the Frontier League and later the Northern League where he became the face of the Gary Southshore Railcats franchise. Townsend played four seasons for the Railcats, becoming the franchise's all-time leader in home runs (39), RBI (229), runs scored (218), and set single season records for batting average (.374), at-bats (374), RBI (84) and slugging percentage (.623). Townsend earned Player of the Year honors in the Northern League in 2008, before being sold to the Florida Marlins later that year. He is currently playing for the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins.
Former NCAA All-American Matt Wilhite is currently the only former Hilltopper playing in Triple-A. Wilhite has appeared in 18 games in 2009 for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, posting a 3.57 ERA in 22.2 innings of work. Wilhite was purchased by the Anaheim Angels in 2003 after a brief stint in the independent Frontier League. The Bowling Green, Ky. native spent seven years in the Angels organization, including four with the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the Angels. With the Bees, he compiled a 17-6 career record, while appearing in 156 games. Wilhite signed with the Rockies after being released by the Angels earlier this season.
Jordan Newton, the 2006 sixth round selection of the Detroit Tigers was promoted in April to high Class-A Lakeland (Fla.) after spending two seasons with the West Michigan White Caps. With West Michigan, Newton hit .267 with seven home runs and 48 RBI in 2008 and was hitting .386 with the White Caps before being promoted to Lakeland. With the Flying Tigers, Newton is currently hitting .248 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 35 games. Jordan Newton was a Second-Team All-Conference selection in 2006 and a South Central All-Region selection in 2005 with WKU.
Wade Gaynor, who became the highest draft pick in Hilltopper history after being selected in the third round by the Detroit Tigers, has started every game with the Oneonta Tigers in Class-A Short Season, batting .267 with a double and two RBI in eight games. Gaynor has had two multi-hit games while playing the hot corner in seven of the eight games. The Hawesville, Ky. native was a Sun Belt All-Conference First-Team selection and became the first player in WKU history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in the same season. He slugged .781, had an on-base percentage of .457, and recorded an impressive .940 fielding percentage. Ranked in the top eighth in the Sun Belt in 12 different offensive categories, Gaynor was also fifth in the nation in home runs, second in total bases, 11th in slugging, and 31st in hits with 93.
J.B. Paxson became the first ever Hilltopper to be selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers after going in the 13th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft. A catcher for his first three years at WKU, Paxson moved to the bullpen this year, thus upping his draft status after tossing his fastball in the mid-90's throughout the season. With the Tigers, the Greenwood, Ind. native has notched one save in 1.1 innings of work, striking out three and hasn't allowed a run.
After returning to school for his senior season despite being selected by the Chicago Cubs in 2008, Oxford, Miss. native Chad Cregar went from being a 47th round selection to a 15th round pick of the Florida Marlins in 2009. Named to the Sun Belt All-Conference First-Team, Cregar was also a preseason All-American by both the NCBWA and Louisville Slugger. Cregar finished his two-year career batting .343 and slugging .661, ranking fourth all-time in career home runs (40) and sixth in RBI (145). Cregar is currently hitting .250 for the Jamestown Jammers in Class-A Short Season, with one double and one RBI in six games.
Joining Chad Cregar in the Florida Marlins organization is former WKU shortstop Terrence Dayleg, who was tabbed in the 22nd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft. Dayleg has played in four games with the Marlins in the Rookie Gulf Coast League, going 5-for-10, including a multi-hit performance in his rookie league debut. Dayleg hit .327 with 18 doubles, two triples, and three home runs, scoring 43 runs and driving in 39 in 2009 for WKU. Named as one of the 38 finalists for the prestigious Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nation's best shortstop, Dayleg earned Sun Belt All-Conference Second-Team honors.
Junior Matt Ridings was selected in the 25th round by the Washington Nationals, but has the option of returning to school for his senior season on the Hill. A preseason All-American and Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Ridings led the league in strikeouts and starts in 2009 while finishing second in wins and innings pitched. The junior righthander from Franklin, Tenn. posted an 8-2 record with two saves.
Evan Teague, the final Hilltopper taken in the draft, was a 35th round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays and has agreed to terms with the club. In his four-year WKU career, Teague pitched in 97 games. Only Matt Wilhite (2000-03), with 110 appearances, pitched in more games in a Hilltopper uniform. Teague finished with a 12-6 career record with three saves. In 108.1 innings pitched, he struck out 100 while walking 59 and registering a 5.48 ERA.
The six players drafted in the 2009 Major League First-Year Players Draft were a school record, doubling the old mark of three draftees in a single year. WKU closed out its historic 2009 season with the program's first national ranking since 2001, finishing 23rd in the College Baseball Top 30 poll.
