University of Oklahoma Athletics

2002 MLB Draft Has Stong Sooner Flavor :: Fransz and Cherry taken by Cubs, Kitch goes to Dodgers, Greusel to Marlins, White to Athletics.

2002 MLB Draft Has Stong Sooner Flavor :: Fransz and Cherry taken by Cubs, Kitch goes to Dodgers, Greusel to Marlins, White to Athletics. 2002 MLB Draft Has Stong Sooner Flavor

Fransz and Cherry taken by Cubs, Kitch goes to Dodgers, Greusel to Marlins, White to Athletics.




Junior Jason Fransz was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round of Tuesday's Major League Baseball Draft. He is one of four Sooners to be taken on the draft's first day and five overall.

The 2002 Major League Baseball draft had quite a Sooner flavor, as five University of Oklahoma players and two OU signees were taken my Major League clubs.

Outfielder Jason Fransz was the first Sooner taken, going to the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round (No. 243 overall). The Los Angeles Dodgers selected infielder Denver Kitch in the ninth round (No. 271 overall) and right-handed pitcher Rocky Cherry also went to the Cubs at No. 423 in the 14th round. Evan Greusel, Oklahoma's all-time leader in pitching appearances made, went to the Florida Marlins in the 17th round (No. 503 overall). Oakland selected Curtis White in the 43rd round (No. 1,297 overall).

Fransz, Kitch, Cherry and White had all been drafted previously, however turned down those offers to play at Oklahoma. Fransz was picked in both the 1999 (42nd round, Kansas City) and 2000 (38th round, Philadelphia) drafts, Kitch was taken in 2000 (29th round, Pittsburgh) and Cherry in 2001 (10th round, Philadelphia). White's selection is this year's draft marks the fourth consecutive year that he's been selected. Tampa Bay picked White in both 1999 and 2000, while Atlanta selected him in 2001.

In addition, two of Oklahoma's high school signees for this year were selected in the MLB Draft. Corey Shafer of Choctaw (Okla.) High was picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round (No. 45) and Josh Johnson, younger brother of current Sooner Tyler Johnson, of Jenks (Okla.) High went to the Florida Marlins at No. 113 (fourth round).

The Sooners' season came to an end last weekend at the NCAA Wichita Regional. OU finished the 2002 season with a record of 35-27, and its 15-12 record in Big 12 action was good for fourth in the conference.