Jan. 24, 2002

Two University of Kentucky baseball players have been ranked in the Southeastern Conference’s top-10 major league baseball prospects for the 2002 draft by Baseball America. Joseph Blanton and Rob Corrado, both junior pitchers, are listed as No. 2 and No. 6 respectively by the biweekly publication.

Blanton, a 6-2, 220-pound right-hander from Brownsville, Ky. (Franklin-Simpson), tied for the team lead in appearances with 22 last season while posting a 3-5 record and a 5.52 ERA in 58.2 innings pitched. Listed as the Wildcats’ No. 1 prospect in the preseason by Coach Keith Madison, Blanton threw eight innings and struck out five in a 9-5 Kentucky win over then 7th-ranked LSU on April 1, 2001.

Corrado, 6-6, 230-pound right-handed hurler, led the UK pitching staff with five wins as a sophomore. The Dayton, Ohio (Oakwood) native made 19 appearances that included 15 starting assignments, tying Scott Wade for the team lead last season, and went 5-7 with an 8.15 ERA in 67.1 innings of work. Possessing outstanding control, Corrado did not throw a wild pitch in 2001 and only has two in 136.2 career innings on the mound.

The 106th year of UK baseball will begin on Friday, Feb. 15 when Kentucky travels to Birmingham, Ala. to face Samford at 4 p.m. Coach Keith Madison, now in his 24th year at the helm of the Wildcats, needs only three victories to earn 700 in his career.

Baseball America 2002 Major League Baseball DraftTop 10 Southeastern Conference Prospects

1.Drew Meyer, SS, South Carolina
2.Joseph Blanton, RHP, Kentucky
3.Pat Osborn, SS/3B, Florida
4.Lance Cormier, RHP, Arkansas
5.Bo Pettit, RHP, LSU
6.Rob Corrado, RHP, Kentucky
7.Charlie Isaacson, RHP, Arkansas
8.Tanner Brock, RHP, Mississippi State
9.Eric Brandon, RHP, Auburn
10.Jeremy Brown, C, Alabama