June 7, 2008

QUEENS, N.Y. - Five Red Storm baseball players were selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Senior pitcher George Brown and junior pitchers Scott Barnes, Justin Gutsie, Colin Lynch and Jared Yecker were drafted by five different teams.

Barnes was the first St. John's player to get selected this year. The lefty was picked in the 8th round (237 overall) by the San Francisco Giants. A back-to-back first team All-BIG EAST selection, Barnes was 7-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 15 starts this season. The lefty had 90 strikeouts in 90.1 innings and allowed opponents just a .216 batting average. The junior's 90 strikeouts rank seventh all-time in a single season and the 90.1 innings rank tied for seventh.

In three years with the Red Storm, Barnes ranks third all-time with 263 strikeouts. The lefty had 99 strikeouts in 95.1 innings pitched in 2007, both of which are also ranked in the all-time single season top ten (sixth and third, respectively).

Gutsie was then drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 14th round (423 overall). The rigthy reliever was 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA in a career-high 19 appearances for St. John's this season. Gutsie also had one save and tallied 35 strikeouts in 28.0 innings. The reliever allowed just a .241 batting average.

In his career, the junior has a 5-5 record in 45 appearances. Gutsie also has three saves and 78 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched.

The Florida Marlins took Yecker in the 22nd round (658 overall). The righty was 4-2 this season with a 4.02 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts). Yecker had 46 strikeouts in 56.0 innings and was a two-time BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week in 2008.

Yecker has posted an 18-7 record in three seasons with the Red Storm. The righty has 122 strikeouts in 186.2 innings of work.

Brown was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 27th round (815 overall). A Louisville Slugger second team All-American and the NCBWA District II Player of the Year, Brown was also named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and was an All-BIG EAST first team selection. The lefty finished the season with a 9-1 record and was a perfect 9-0 in the regular season. Brown compiled a 2.91 ERA in a career-high tying 14 starts and added a career-high 59 strikeouts. The lefty tossed a career-high 89.2 innings, held opponents to a .251 batting average and walked just 12 batters.

Brown finishes his career at St. John's with a 22-3 record. The lefty ranks tenth in the all-time record books with 22 career wins and also ranks tied for fifth with nine victories in a single season. The senior lefty earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors twice this past season and was named to the honor roll once. An accounting major with a 3.47 GPA, Brown also earned ESPN The Magazine second team Academic All-America honors and first team Academic All-District honors.

The San Diego Padres drafted Lynch in the 40th round (1215 overall) to round out the Red Storm's 2008 draft class. Lynch was 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA and 13 saves. An All-BIG EAST second team selection, the reliever made a team-high 24 appearances and had 23 strikeouts in 27.2 innings.

A closer, Lynch ranks second in school history with 24 career saves and is only the second St. John's pitcher to reach the 20 career save plateau (Craig Hansen, 26). Lynch also ranks second and third in single season saves with 13 (2008) and 11 (2007). In 72 appearances, Lynch is 8-5 with 92 strikeouts in 103.2 innings.