The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Two Longhorns selected in fifth round of MLB Draft
06.10.2009 | Baseball
June 10, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Longhorns first baseman Brandon Belt and left-handed pitcher Austin Wood were both selected in the fifth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.
The San Francisco Giants selected Belt with the 147th overall pick. The Longhorns first baseman is hitting .336 with 17 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 40 RBI and 14 stolen bases on the season.
Belt has been selected two other times with the Boston Red Sox taking him in the 11th round of the 2006 draft and the Atlanta Braves taking him in the 11th round of the 2007 draft.
Wood was selected three picks after Belt by the Detroit Tigers. The Motor City Bengals tabbed the second-team All-America with the 150th pick. Wood is 5-1 on the season with a 2.19 ERA and 15 saves. For his career, the southpaw is one of just two Horns to amass over 20 wins and 20 saves.
"I'm excited. I couldn't be more excited," Wood said. "This has probably been the best month of my life, from the 25-inning game to us winning the Supers and for me to go to Omaha right now. It's been a blast. To be picked by Detroit, it's awesome. It's a great franchise and I'm looking forward to the opportunity when it comes around."
It marks the first time that Wood, the Most Outstanding Player of this year's NCAA Austin Regional, has been drafted.
Texas will show keen interest in five other draftees as potential future Longhorns Everett Williams (2nd round - San Diego Padres), Colton Cain (8th round - Pittsburgh Pirates), Jacob Cowan (10th round - Baltimore Orioles), Jonathan Walsh (18th round - San Francisco Dodgers) and Josh Urban (19th round - Pittsburgh Pirates) were all selected in the first 30 rounds of the draft. The Longhorns' signees will have until August 15 to decide whether to keep their commitment to Texas or sign with their professional teams.
The draft will wrap up with rounds 31-50 on Thursday.
