June 11, 2009
SECAUCUS, N.J. — Kentucky junior right-handed pitcher Clint Tilford has been drafted 931st overall in the 2009 MLB Draft, going to the Colorado Rockies in the 31st round, it was announced Thursday morning.
Tilford, a native of West Paducah, Ky., becomes the fourth UK player drafted in 2009, joining first-rounder James Paxton, fourth-round pick Chris Rusin and 11th-round selection Chris Wade. Tilford, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander, appeared in 23 games with eight starts in 2009. Tilford earned a 1-4 record and a 7.05 ERA, tossing 52.1 innings, allowing 75 hits and 48 runs. Tilford walked 24 and struck out 34, allowing opponents to hit for a .332 average. In SEC games alone, Tilford totaled a 12.12 ERA and a 0-3 record, allowing 25 runs in 16.1 innings, walking 11 and striking out eight.
In his three-year career, Tilford has worked in 50 games with 19 starts, posting a 5-4 record and a 5.85 ERA. Tilford has tossed 112.1 career innings, striking out 76 and walking 58. Throughout the 2009 season, Tilford had several highlights, including making a start against Louisville on April 28, tossing 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits and only one earned run, striking out five without issuing a walk. Arguably his best performance of the season came against Indiana State on March 8, tossing five shutout innings of relief, allowing two hits and fanning three. Through his first nine appearances of 2009, Tilford had totaled a 3.16 ERA.
Several UK signees were also drafted Wednesday during day two of the draft. Right-handed pitcher Steven Inch, a 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Alberta, Canada, was drafted in the sixth round with a 197th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies. Inch totaled a 7-1 record and a 1.20 ERA last year, starting eight games and totaling five complete games and two shutouts. Inch tossed 46 innings, striking out 49 and walking 21. Standout right-hander Jordan Cooper – a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from Shelbyville, Tenn., was also drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates with the 505th overall pick, going in the 17th round. Kentucky native Keith Butler was also selected in the 24th round with the 729th overall pick. A six-foot 175-pounder out of Wabash Valley College, Butler worked in 20 games last year, tossing 43 innings with 59 strikeouts and 15 walks, posting a 6-2 record and a 2.72 ERA.
**UPDATE: UK signee Taylor Rogers (LHP; 6-3, 170) drafted in the 37th round by the Baltimore Orlioles (1106th overall).**
**UPDATE 2: UK signee Sam Kidd (RHP, 6-2, 180), out of Ohio County High School, drafted in the 39th round by the Philadelphia Phillies.**
**UPDATE 3: UK signee Luke Maile (C, 6-3, 195), from Covington Catholic, drafted by the Red Sox in the 43rd round (1308 overall).**
**UPDATE 4: UK signee Brian Adams (CF, 6-4, 210), from South Forsyth High School (Ga.), drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 45th round (1349 overall).**
