June 9, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - A banner night for Kennesaw State baseball continued Tuesday as junior right-handed pitcher Kyle Heckathorn was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 47th overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Heckathorn has been a dominating starter, which was perhaps never more on display than in his final start of the 2009 season for KSU against North Florida. In that outing, Heckathorn struck out 15 batters, a KSU Division I record. The achievement earned the Ringgold, Ga., native "Louisville Slugger" National Player of the Week honors as awarded by Collegiate Baseball.

The junior went 4-1 on the season with 98 strikeouts in 86.1 innings of work. Batters hit just .251 against KSU's Friday night starter. Heckathorn had an ERA of 3.44 with one complete game shutout, with that coming against Southern Utah.

In his three years at Kennesaw State, Heckathorn struck out 239 batters, ranking him fourth all-time in school history.

"We're thrilled for Kyle and his entire family," said KSU head baseball coach Mike Sansing. "He has had three great seasons for us. He earned a lot of preseason awards this year, and was also an Atlantic Sun All-Conference selection at the end of the year. Kyle had a tough task being the Friday night starter for us all season, but this pick is a tribute to his season and his work habits."

Heckathorn was the second KSU baseball player drafted this year, and the 25th in the program's history. Chad Jenkins was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 20th overall selection. KSU recruit Zach Wheeler was also selected in the MLB Draft with the sixth overall pick by the San Francisco Giants. With the 100th pick of the draft, Houston selected Telvin Nash of Griffin High School, who also committed to play for the Owls.