Four Sooners Taken On First Day Of Major League Draft

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma junior pitcher David Purcey, the Toronto Blue Jays' No. 1 pick, headlined the Sooners' four draft selections on the first day of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday.

Purcey was chosen by the Blue Jays with the No. 16 overall pick and was followed in the draft by teammates Jarod McAuliff (Oakland Athletics - 7th round), Mark Roberts (Texas Rangers - 8th round) and Ole Sheldon (Houston Astros - 14th round). It marked the third-straight year that four Sooners have been taken on the first day of the draft.

Purcey became the program's first opening round pick since former Sooner pitcher and current Oakland Athletic Mark Redman was selected in the first round by the Minnesota Twins with the 13th overall pick in the 1995 draft.

The selection was the third of Purcey's career as he was a 20th round selection by the Seattle Mariners out of high school and a 17th round pick by the New York Yankees just last year. He improved his draft status this year by becoming one of the more dominant pitchers in the Big 12 Conference in his third season.

A second team all-conference pick by the league coaches, Purcey ranked in the top 10 in five pitching categories including ERA (eighth), wins (tied-sixth), strikeouts and innings pitched (third), opponent batting average (second) and starts (tied-second).

Purcey finished with a career best 9-5 record and 3.11 ERA this year.

Ranking with Purcey among the conference leaders consistently throughout the year were McAuliff and Roberts. McAuliff, the 217th overall pick in the draft, finished 14th in the league in ERA, third in saves and first in appearances as the Sooners' designated closer.

A first team All-Big 12 pick, he broke both the school's career and single-season appearances marks. He ended the season second on the team in wins with a 6-2 record and complimented it with a 3.86 ERA.

A four year veteran of the Oklahoma program, Roberts saved the best for last in his senior season. The Owasso, Okla., native finished the 2004 season with a career best 9-5 record and 3.41 ERA and garnered second team all-conference honors by the league coaches for his efforts.

In addition to leading the team in strikeouts and innings pitched, he also ranked 11th in the conference in ERA, second in innings pitched and strikeouts, tied for fourth in starts, sixth in opponent batting average and tied for sixth in wins. He broke both of the school's career strikeout and innings pitched records in his final campaign.

Sheldon, a second team All-Big 12 selection and the Dallas Morning News', San Antonio News-Express' and Waco Tribune-Herald's Big 12 Player of the Year, ranked among the Big 12 offensive leaders in several categories.

Oklahoma's starting first baseman finished second in the league in hitting, tied for second in hits and tied for seventh in doubles. He also led the team offensively in numerous categories including batting average (.367), hits (94), doubles (19), triples (3) and RBI (54).

Rounds 19-50 of the draft will be completed on Tuesday.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Four Sooners Taken On First Day Of Major League Draft

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