2010 Georgia Baseball Media Guide

Page 27

Meet The Bulldogs

Gray Griffith

A total of 11 current Bulldogs have been drafted by a Major League club including pitcher Jeff Walters who has been selected four times since high school. Most recently, he was a

6-3, 202, So., R-R Alpharetta, Ga. Centennial HS

#42 RHP High School: A graduate of Centennial where he played for Billy Nicholson *A two-year letterman for the Knights as a pitcher/infielder *A National Honor Society member and Scholar-Athlete *Posted a team-best 1.40 ERA and two saves as a senior *Earned team’s MVP and Cy Young Award as a senior *Played summer baseball for the Douglasville Bulls Personal: Born Feb. 20, 1990 *Son of Phillip and Lin Griffith *Gray’s father played baseball at UNC including on their 1978 College World Series team, his uncle Herky played baseball at Western Carolina and for the Washington Senators, and his aunt Gina played volleyball at Western Carolina *Major: Pre-Business

Jan. 12 Jan. 14 Jan. 19 Feb. 20 Feb. 21 Feb. 24 Feb. 25 March 1 March 6 March 8 March 19 March 21 March 26 April 23 April 27 May 2 May 3 May 6 June 18 June 25 July 5 July 23 Aug. 2

Georgia Bulldog Birthdays

Alex Wood Chase Davidson Lance Martin Gray Griffith Earl Daniels Coach Eller Colby May John Herman Christian Glisson Robbie O’Bryan Peter Verdin Johnathan Taylor Kris Edge Cecil Tanner Tyler Maloof Evan Tieles Zach Taylor Michael Palazzone Alex McRee Clayton McKenney Coach Perno Blake Dieterich Craig Gullickson

Aug. 3 Aug. 4 Aug. 8 Aug. 16 Aug. 17 Sept. 10 Sept. 21 Oct. 6 Oct. 6 Oct. 7 Oct. 12 Oct. 28 Nov. 2 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 18 Nov. 21 Nov. 24 Nov. 28 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 14

Eric Swegman Cooper Moseley Chance Veazey Justin Grimm Kyle Farmer Malcolm Clapsaddle Kevin Ruiz Levi Hyams Robert Shipman Brett DeLoach Zack Laughlin Patrick Boling Ben Cornwell Jeffrey Walters Carson Schilling Todd Hankins Coach Wiederhold Chase Hawkins Coach Holmes Justin Earls Steve Esmonde Zach Cone

17th round pick by Baltimore in 2009. In 2009, Georgia led the country with 11 players drafted and Walters was one of three Bulldog pitchers who opted to return for their senior season. The highest Bulldog to get drafted and sign was junior first baseman Rich Poythress. As a second round pick, Poythress received around a $700,000 bonus from the Seattle Mariners. In 2008, eight Bulldogs had an opportunity to sign a professional contract including a pair of first round picks in Gordon Beckham (SS) and Joshua Fields (RHP). Beckham was the eighth overall selection and earned a $2.6 million signing bonus from the Chicago White Sox. Fields was the 20th overall pick and the Mariners signed him for $1.75 million. Georgia’s Major League Draft Picks Bulldog, Pos. Team, Year (Round) Malcolm Clapsaddle, RHP Baltimore, 2009 (34th) Zach Cone, OF L.A. Angels, 2008 (3rd) Chase Davidson, 1B Houston, 2008 (3rd) Justin Earls, LHP Pittsburgh, 2009 (47th) Justin Grimm, RHP Boston, 2007 (13th) Alex McRee, LHP Tampa Bay, 2006 (48th) Los Angeles, 2009 (26th) Michael Palazzone, RHP Atlanta, 2008 (18th) Eric Swegman, RHP Atlanta, 2009 (28th) Cecil Tanner, RHP Atlanta, 2008 (36th) Zach Taylor, OF Pittsburgh, 2009 (31st) Jeff Walters, RHP San Francisco, 2006 (24th) Washington, 2007 (47th) Cleveland, 2008 (30th) Baltimore, 2009 (17th)

Chase Davidson and Zach Cone are former third round draft picks who decided to attend Georgia.

6 College World Series Appearances: 1987, 1990 National Champions, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008

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