June 10, 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky redshirt junior catcher Greg Fettes has been picked in the 39th round of the 2015 MLB Draft, going No. 1,178 overall, by the Oakland Athletics, it was announced on Wednesday night.

Fettes, a native of Madison Heights, Mich., concludes a MLB Draft that saw five Kentucky players selected, marking the school-record seventh consecutive season with at least four players picked. Fettes joins UK draftees, including Kyle Cody (Second Round; Twins), Ka’ai Tom (Fifth Round; Indians), Kyle Barrett (15th round; Marlins) and Dustin Beggs (32nd Round; Mets).

A 6-foot-2, 230-pound right-handed hitter, Fettes belted five homers for the Wildcats in 2015, making 36 starts behind the plate and playing in 44 total games. Fettes hit .214 in 2015, with three doubles and 19 RBI, owning a .329 on-base percentage. He had a strong start to the year, notching a two-homer game in the season lidlifter vs. Ball State in Wilmington, N.C.

In his three-year career, Fettes has played in 81 games with 58 starts, batting .227 with eight doubles, eight homers and 33 RBI. In 2013, Fettes earned Freshman All-SEC accolades after hitting .250 with five doubles, three homers and nine RBI. In 2014, Fettes — a 43rd round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers — batted .250 with five RBI in 14 games.

Kentucky has had a program-record 43 players drafted or sign a professional contract in the seven years of the UK head coach Gary Henderson era. Since Henderson and recruiting coordinator Brad Bohannon arrived on campus in 2004, Kentucky has had 65 players drafted or sign a professional contract, including 21 in the first-10 rounds. Fettes is the 128th player in UK history to be picked in the MLB Draft.