June 11, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Marshall University junior right-handed pitcher Steve Blevins recently signed with the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. Blevins was selected in the 21st round (636 overall) by the Twins in last week's First-Year Player Draft.

"I am very proud of Steve," head coach Jeff Waggoner said. "(Pitching coach) Tim Adkins and I both feel he is ready to play pro ball. It's not about which round a player gets drafted or about how much money he signs for, but whether or not he is ready, and we both feel Steve is ready to go. We are very excited to follow him in his pro career and wish him all the best."

In his first season with the Thundering Herd after transferring from Cincinnati, Blevins led all Marshall starting pitchers with 78 strikeouts in a team-high 98.0 innings pitched. He established a 4.41 ERA and held opponents to a .253 batting average en route to a 9-3 record. Blevins' nine victories tied the Marshall single-season win mark of former Herd great JR Watts (1998).

Blevins had two complete-game outings in 2008, both against Tulane, once during the regular season and then again during Marshall's incredible run during the 2008 Entergy Conference USA Baseball Championship. In the regular season contest, Blevins hurled a career-high 12 strikeouts and followed that performance by fanning eight Green Wave batters in the opening round of the tournament.

Fellow junior Nate Lape (20th round, pick 617), senior Tommy Johnson (27th round, pick 822) and Marshall recruit Greg Williams (31st round, pick 923) were the other Herd draft selections in 2008.

Prior to last week, Marshall's last draft choices came after the 1994 season. Matt Spade, who was selected by Pittsburgh in the 28th round with the 774th selection, and Rick Paugh, who also went to the Pirates, was the first pick of the 45th round. Paugh was with the Pirates' organization from 1994-98, while Spade was with Pittsburgh from 1994-96.

Marshall's highest draft pick was Greg Hill in 1984. The Twins took the Herd shortstop/catcher in the third round with the 59th selection.