June 6, 2006

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft should be an exciting one for the Wildcat baseball team, with several players having a chance to be selected. Leading the way is junior starting pitcher Kevin Mulvey (Parlin, N.J.), who is projected by some to be a first round pick. Since the inception of the amateur draft in 1965, Villanova players have been well-represented in picks by major league teams. Below are some historical notes on the draft and Villanova's history in the draft.

Between 1965 and 2005, a total of 43 Wildcat players were drafted a total of 51 times. A variety of factors can lead to a player being eligible for the draft in multiple seasons. Villanova had two players chosen in the inaugural draft in 1965. Robert Hall, a third baseman, became the Wildcat first-ever draft pick when he was taken by the New York Yankees with the 248th overall pick in the 13th round. Later in the same draft, pitcher Victor Majewski was picked 721st overall, in the 42nd round by the Oakland Athletics.

The Wildcats have never had a player selected in the first round of the draft. However, four players have been taken in the second round of the draft and all but one eventually reached the major leagues. Most recently, right-handed pitcher Brian Slocum debuted with the Cleveland Indians earlier this season after being selected in the second round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. In 1989, third baseman Gary Scott was a draft pick of the Chicago Cubs, going 38th overall and in the second round. His draft spot is the highest-ever for a Villanova player.

Scott is the career home run leader for the Wildcats and he also became the first Villanova player to reach the major leagues through the amateur draft. He was on the Opening Day roster for the Cubs in 1991 and made his Major League debut on April 9, playing third base and batting eighth. Scott wound up with 175 major league at-bats over two seasons with the Cubs.

The Wildcats have had 53 former players reach the major leagues, with five doing so through the amateur draft. Since Scott made his major league debut, the other four players to reach the major leagues are Rafael Novoa (debuted on July 31, 1990), Gene Schall (June 16, 1995), Mike Neill (July 27, 1998) and Slocum (April 22, 2006).

In the first 41 years of the draft, Villanova has had at least one player chosen in 24 of the years. The most picks in any one year came in 1991, when six players were chosen. Three players were drafted in the first four rounds in 1991, including Scott, Bill Bliss (3rd round, 86th overall by the Cubs) and Schall (4th round, 110th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies).

Currently, at least one Wildcat player has been drafted in each of the past four seasons since 2002. The only longer consecutive streaks were eight years in a row (1989-96) and six straight seasons (1965-70). The most draft picks during the tenure of a Villanova head coach was 23 during the career of George Bennett, who coached from 1986-2001. There were also 15 draft picks under head coach Art Mahan (1950-72) and five picks during the career of Larry Shane (1973-85). The Wildcats have had eight draft picks since current head coach Joe Godri took over the reigns in 2002.

The Major League Baseball Amateur Draft was conceived in 1965 as a way to implement control over the distribution of amateur talent. It was renamed the First-Year Player Draft in 1998 and has undergone many changes since its beginnings in 1965.

From 1966-86 the draft consisted of two primary phases, one in January and one in June. There was also a secondary portion to the two draft phases, in which players who had been previously drafted but didn't sign could be chosen again. Five of the 53 Villanova draft picks have come in the secondary draft phases. In 1966 and 1967 there was also a draft of American Legion players in late August.

The draft was refined to include only one phase, the June draft that exists now. It was capped at 50 rounds beginning in 1998. Teams pick in reverse order of their finish in the standings the previous season. The American League and National League originally alternated the top overall pick in odd and even years, but that is no longer the case.

This week will mark a new era in the history of the draft, both in the major leagues and for Villanova. The 2006 draft will begin with the first 20 rounds on Tuesday, June 6, followed by rounds 21-50 on Wednesday. For live coverage during the draft, visit www.mlb.com. A recap of all Wildcat draft picks will be available on www.villanova.com at the end of each day's selections.