June 8, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — While a school-record nine Kentucky players were selected during the 2012 MLB Draft, UK also had a total of five signees picked over the course of the three-day draft, including catcher Zach Arnold, righty Kyle Cody, left-hander Chase Mullins, catcher Casey Schroeder and right-hander Matt Pope.
The Wildcats had a total of nine of the 2012 roster picked in the MLB Draft, eclipsing the previous school record of seven draft picks in 2008. Since UK won the 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship, a total of 51 UK players have been drafted or signed a minor league contract, a staggering total of 7.29 MLB Draft picks per year. UK ranked second in the NCAA in draft picks from one school and were just two picks shy of the SEC record of 11 picks from Vanderbilt in 2011.
A 6-foot-2, 190-pound catcher out of Ottawa-Glandorf High School (Ohio), Schroeder was UK’s highest drafted signee, going to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 21st round (No. 690 overall). A 6-foot-9 southpaw out of Paris, Ky., Mullins was picked by the Texas Rangers in the 24th round (No. 756). A 6-foot-2 catcher out of Franklin County High School, Arnold was picked 830th overall in the 27th round by the New York Mets, while Cody is a 6-foot-6 righty out of Central Catholic High School (Wis.) who was picked by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 33rd round (No. 1028 overall). A 6-foot-6, 225-pound right-hander out of Matthew Science Hill High School (Tenn.), Pope marked UK’s final signee drafted, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 38th round (No. 1156 overall).
UK’s nine draft picks include outfielder Brian Adams (eighth round; Padres), catcher Luke Maile (eighth round; Rays), left-hander Taylor Rogers (11th round; Twins), third baseman Thomas McCarthy (18th round; White Sox), right-hander Tim Peterson (20th round; Mets), southpaw Alex Phillips (21st round; Tigers), outfielder Cameron Flynn (23rd round; Marlins), lefty Jerad Grundy (26th round; Twins) and catcher Michael Williams (31st round; Rays).
Kentucky finished its 2012 season with a new school-record 45 wins, posting its best finish in program history in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments and finishing one win shy of the regular-season league crown. The Wildcats boasted the SEC Coach of the Year in Gary Henderson, the SEC Freshman of the Year in outfielder Austin Cousino and All-SEC standouts Maile, Corey Littrell and A.J. Reed. Cousino and Reed also became the second and third UK players in program history to earn freshman All-America accolades.
