Baseball Hosts "Scout Day" at LDM Park

Oct. 21, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- After leading the Big 12 with nine players drafted off the 2009 roster, it was no surprise that 28 scouts, representing 20-plus Major League Baseball teams, were on hand Tuesday afternoon for the Sooners' annual "Scout Day" at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

The OU baseball team held an eight-inning scrimmage that was highlighted by strong pitching performances on both sides.

"This is a big part of our program each and every year, to have MLB teams watching our players in the fall and spring," said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway. "This program prides itself in not only competing year in and year out for championships, but developing some of the best talent in the nation for the next level of our sport. I think it is safe to say we have a proven track record in each of the last five years and today's attendance by the scouts is evidence in that."

Since taking over in 2005, Golloway and company have sent 29 Sooners into the MLB draft, including two first round picks (Garrett Richards in 2009 and Jackson Williams in 2007) and 11 players taken in the first 10 rounds.

In 2009, Richards began the draft for Oklahoma as the first Sooner taken, while also becoming the third first round draft pick at OU since 2004 and the second in the last three years. He was followed by Andrew Doyle (4th round), J.T. Wise (5th round), Jamie Johnson (7th round), Chase Anderson and Bryant Hernandez (9th round), Aaron Baker (11th round), Antwonie Hubbard and Matt Harughty (26th round).

While the Sooners will have several new faces on the field in 2010, plenty of talent has been added to fill some of the holes left by the draft and graduation. The 2010 recruiting class was just recently ranked No. 16 in the nation by Baseball America, and was one of just three recognized in the Big 12.

The 2010 roster boasts eight players that have been drafted in their careers, including four newcomers that were selected in last June's draft before their arrivals on the Norman campus. That group includes Chad Kettler (Coppell, Texas) in the 24th round by the Cubs, Bobby Shore (San Marcos, Calif.) in the 40th round by the Orioles, Danny Black (Roseville, Calif.) in the 42nd round by the Yankees and Ryan Gibson (Yukon, Okla.) in the 48th round by the Marlins.

The Sooners have been participating in team practices since Sept. 21 with anywhere from two to four scrimmages held a week. While the recent inclement weather in that past two weeks has presented some challenges, progress continues towards the spring season.

"It's no secret that we would like to be further along, but the weather has hindered that," added Golloway. "Baseball is a game played outside with weather permitting and we are not the only team dealing with it right now. The coaching staff has done a good job in emphasizing to the players that we can't over concern ourselves with things we can't control.

"We are focused on getting better and working on the fundamentals, whether it be outside on the diamond or inside in the cages. That is exactly what we have been doing and will continue to do as we approach the 2010 season."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Baseball Hosts "Scout Day" at LDM Park

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