Former pitcher Jason Braun became the fourth player in Warrior baseball history to be selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft going to the Cincinnati Reds in the 29th round.
Corban's Braun Picked in 29th Round by Cincinnati Reds
SECAUCUS, N.J. – Senior pitcher Jason Braun (Dallas, Ore.) became the fourth player in program history to be picked in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday, as the Cincinnati Reds took the four-year Warrior in the 29th round.
"I am very excited," said Braun. "This means a lot to me because ever since high school, I was thinking about the idea. This is what I've been working for, this is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."
As the end of Day #2 was coming to a close, Cincinnati called Braun's name with the 869th overall selection making him the 15th pitcher chosen by the Reds through the opening 30 rounds. Braun joins fellow small college hurler Timothy Crabbe from Westmont College in California, as well as junior right-hander Brian Pearl from the University of Washington as Cincinnati draftees.
Braun, a four-year starter for the Warriors, was the ace of Corban's pitching staff this past year, setting a new single-season Earned Run Average (ERA) mark of 3.46. Earning all-conference honorable mention recognition this spring, the 6-foot-5 right-hander led the Warriors in six pitching categories: appearances (13), games started (11), shutouts (1), saves (2), innings pitched (78.0), and strikeouts (61).
Among the best to wear a Warrior uniform, Braun is ranked inside the Top 10 in Warrior history in eight categories, including shutouts (2 – tied for 2nd), inning pitched (276.2 –3rd), strikeouts (166 – 4th), appearances (60 –tied for 4th), games started (39 –7th), complete games (8 – tied for 7th), saves (2 – tied for 7th), and wins (7 – tied for 10th).
After the draft concludes tomorrow, the Reds will make a decision on where Braun will be heading to begin his professional career. According to Braun, the likely options are Florida's Gulf Coast League (GCL) Reds, Montana's Billings Mustangs, or Ohio's Dayton Dragons.
"He (Reds' area scout Jason Bray) will call in the next couple of days after the draft is completed to let me know," stated Braun. "I should know in 3 or 4 days where I will be going."
Braun becomes the second highest player ever drafted in program history, as former Warrior Rich Dorman was chosen in the 13th round of the 2000 draft by the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays with the 376th overall selection.
Over the past four seasons, Corban has had two other players selected in the MLB Draft with former Warriors Brian Nelson (35th round – 2006) and Jamie McGraw (40th round – 2008) both going to the Texas Rangers.
"I am happy for Jason and am very confident that he will be successful at the next level," commented third-year head coach Nate Mayben. "Having another player taken in the draft really shows that people are paying more attention to Warrior baseball and noticing the legitimate talent coming from our program."
Braun was the lone Cascade Collegiate Conference athlete and the only player to be chosen this year from a small college in the state of Oregon. The former Warrior joins fellow Northwest area small college and former Lewis-Clark State players Sean Halton (406th overall to Milwaukee Brewers) and Thomas Peale (698th overall to Florida Marlins) as '09 selections.
"I have to remember that where I am and where I'm headed is what God is planning for me," said Braun. "It is up to me to make the best of where He is going to put me. That has me excited."