P.J. Finigan drafted in 7th round by Detroit Tigers
06/07/2005 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
June 7, 2005
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
Southern Illinois University senior righthander P.J. Finigan was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round of Tuesday's Major Leage Baseball Draft.
Finigan, the 2005 Joe Carter Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, was the 210th pick overall in the draft.
"I'm ecstatic," Finigan said. "There's been a lot of lead-up to the draft, and now that it's finally over, it's a big-time relief. I like the Tigers' club."
The Springfield, Ill., native had a monster year at the plate, leading the conference with a .386 batting average with 48 RBI, four triples and six home runs.
However, Finigan said the Tigers drafted him as a pitching prospect.
Finigan posted a 9-3 record on the mound with a 3.24 ERA. He tossed four complete games and struck out 107 batters in 105 innings pitched.
"His quickest ticket to big leagues is as a pitcher," said Saluki head coach Dan Callahan.
According to Callahan, Finigan was projected to go between rounds 8-10. But in a draft that many scouts describe as thin on pitching, Finigan's status rose on draft day.