June 7, 2000
LEXINGTON, Kty. – The 2000 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft concluded on Wednesday with a total of three juniors and one senior from this year’s University of Kentucky baseball team being selected during the three day event. In addition to the four players from this year’s team, a pair of high school players slated to attend UK were also selected.
On Monday, the first day of the draft, junior right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb (Ashland, Ky.) led the way for the 2000 class of UK draftees when he was taken in the eighth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 249th pick overall, Webb owns the third most strikeouts in UK history after setting the school’s single-season mark by fanning 123 batters this season. By tying for the team-lead with seven victories in 2000, Webb equaled his win output from the previous two seasons combined.
Also selected on Monday was two-time All-America selection, junior catcher John Wilson (Northridge, Calif.). A semi-finalist for the Johnny Bench National Collegiate Catcher of the Year award, Wilson was tabbed in the 11th round, 335th overall, by the New York Mets. Wilson, who was drafted last year by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round, became the all-time home run leader in UK history this season as the only Wildcat to ever hit 50 career home runs. A year after leading the Southeastern Conference by tying a school record with 23 home runs, Wilson had another stellar season in 2000, blasting 18 homers and setting career-highs with 65 runs batted in, 62 runs scored, 18 stolen bases and a .470 on-base percentage.
Two potential Wildcats were also drafted on Monday. Shortstop Aaron Herr of Hempfield High School in Lancaster, Pa. was picked 40th overall as a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds by the Atlanta Braves while right-handed pitcher Shane Boyd of Lexington’s Henry Clay High School went to the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round, 372nd overall. Herr is the son of former major leaguer Tommy Herr while Boyd has signed with the Wildcats to play quarterbacks for Hal Mumme’s UK football team.
The Diamondbacks grabbed their second UK player of the draft on Tuesday, selecting senior second baseman Andy Green (Lexington) in the 24th round, 729th overall. Green played in all 228 UK ballgames during his four-year career, starting 225 of them. Both marks are school records. Green also holds school records with 277 career hits and 199 runs scored. A three-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Green was named to the GTE Academic All-America First Team on Tuesday.
Junior right-hander Jon Hooker (London, Ky.) was the final UK player chosen in the draft, going in the 40th round on Wednesday to the Cleveland Indians, 1205th overall. Hooker was UK’s main man out of the bullpen during the 2000 campaign, tying for the team lead with a career-high four saves while striking out 41 and walking just 12 in 35 innings pitched.
The four Wildcats taken in this year’s major league draft marks the highest total for the school since five UK players were selected in the 1996 draft.
