Rice University Athletics
Savery & Friday Picked Early In Major League Draft
6/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 7, 2007
HOUSTON - On the eve of the Rice baseball program hosting an NCAA Super Regional at home at Reckling Park, the Owls' junior tandem of pitcher/first baseman Joe Savery and shortstop Brian Friday were selected in the first and third rounds, respectively, of the Major League Baseball amateur draft on Thursday (June 7).
Savery was a first round selection, and the 19th pick overall, by the Philadelphia Phillies. Friday went to the state rival Pittsburgh Pirates as the fourth pick in the third round, the 98th selection overall. There were only five rounds completed on the first day of the MLB draft, which will continue on Friday (June 8) beginning at 10:30 am (Central Time).
Savery is the 14th Rice player in the history of the draft to be selected in the first round. He is the first Owl to be picked in round one since Wade Townsend was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2005. Townsend was also a first round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2004.
Friday was the first infielder selected by the Pirates organization on the first day. The all-America shortstop from nearby Bellaire Episcopal High School continued an Owl trend of high-draft pick infielders the last few years that includes Josh Rodriguez (second round in 2006), Paul Janish (fifth round in 2004) and Vincent Sinisi (second round, 2003).
Rice hosts longtime rival Texas A&M in a best-of-three Super Regional series Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) at Reckling Park. Game times are set for 6 pm, 5 pm and 6 pm, respectively. Every game of the series will be broadcast nationally on the ESPN networks. The winner of the Super Regional advances to the College World Series next week in Omaha, Nebraska.
