Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Western Oregon pitcher Grady Wood has been selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 10th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

The 6-2 right hander went 311th overall and was the highest ever selection for the Wolves.

He surpassed the 15th round selection of Blake Keitzman, who also went to the Mariners, in 2009.

As a senior, Wood was a consensus All-American and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Year. He went a perfect 12-0 record with a 1.69 ERA on the season.

Wood won 20 consecutive games over two seasons, just one shy of the NCAA Division II national record, while holding opponents to a record-low .199 average. The previous record was .230. He allowed just 63 hits in 96 innings, while walking just 12 and striking out 89.

"We are very proud of Grady and the way he has represented both Western Oregon University and the Wolves' baseball program," said WOU head coach Jeremiah Robbins. "We wish the best for Grady and his family, and hope he continues to have success on and off the field."

Wood set the GNAC record for career ERA (2.01), shutouts (5) and fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.50). He was named a first team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and by Daktronics, and a second team selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Wood is the fourth Wolves' pitcher since 2006 to be drafted. Nick Waechter went in the 23rd round in 2006, and then Keitzman went in the 15th in 2009. After returning for his senior season, Keitzman went in the 27th round to the Colorado Rockies and Jacob Pettit went to the Baltimore Orioles in the 42nd.