PRAIRIE VIEW A&M BASEBALL DUO DRAFTED BY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CLUBS

PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS (June 12, 2007) A pair of Prairie View A&M University baseball players will have the opportunity to further their playing careers on the professional level after being selected in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft this past week.

Junior center fielder Myrio Richard was Prairie View’s highest draft pick as he was selected in the ninth round by the Oakland Athletics. Richard, a native of Lake Charles, La., earned 2009 All-SWAC Second Team honors in addition to being named as the SWAC’s Preseason Player of the Year. He finished the 2009 campaign with a .315 batting average, 33 RBIs, nine doubles and six home runs.

Unlike most draft picks at the beginning of their professional career, Richard will have a leg up on most of his peers as he’s the second member of his family to play professional baseball. Richard’s brother, Michael, was also selected by the A’s in the 11th round of the 2007 draft and is currently playing with the Stockton Ports on the Class A level.

“I’m glad that Myrio and his brother are both playing in the same organization,” said Prairie View A&M head coach Waskyla Cullivan. “He has the speed and power to move up in their minor league system.”

Senior catcher Brandon Whitby rounded out Prairie View’s draft class as he was picked in the 34th round by the Colorado Rockies.

A senior from Phoenix, Ariz., Whitby was a four-year starter at catcher and capped off his career with a spot on the 2009 All-SWAC First Team after batting .375 with 57 hits, 38 RBIs and 12 doubles. A valuable asset to Prairie View’s pitching staff over the course of his career; Whitby helped several former Panther pitchers earn All-SWAC honors due to his ability to call pitches from behind the plate.

“Brandon provided our team with senior leadership and played a valuable part in the team’s success over the past four years,” said Cullivan. “He made strides especially on the offensive end and became attractive to scouts as his power numbers increased over the course of his career.”

Since the 2004 season, Prairie View A&M has become a hotbed for professional baseball talent as several members from the program have signed contracts to play for Major League Baseball organizations.