Bryant George/Ryan Bradley taken in MLB Draft

June 8, 2010

By Jason Clay
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Southern Illinois right-handed pitcher Bryant George in the 13th round with the 414th overall pick of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday.

George, the school's all-time saves and appearance leader, becomes the 21st player coached by Dan Callahan at SIU to be drafted. He was the fifth player chosen in the draft from the Missouri Valley Conference.

"This means everything to me," George said of being drafted. "It's what I've wanted to do since I could walk and since I could talk. I was that kid out in the yard hitting whiffle balls around and playing catch with my cousins. This is something I always to happen and you never think it will until it actually does."

George, a 5-11, 189-pound product of DuQuoin, Ill., had one of the finest four-year careers of any Saluki pitcher. Some of his honors include:

• 2010 All-MVC Second Team Relief Pitcher
• 2009 All-MVC First Team Relief Pitcher
• 2008 Brooks Wallace Award Candidate
• 2007 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American
• 2007 Honorable Mention All-MVC

He broke the 18-year old school for most saves in a career when he was a junior and rounded out his career with 30 saves. In his last regular season at Missouri State, May 22, George also set a new program record for career appearances and he finished with 101.

George had a 4.40 career ERA with an 11-6 record. He struck out 110 batters and only walked 47 of the 579 hitters he faced in four years with the Salukis. His 11 saves as a freshman tied for the most among all freshman in the country that year and was the 23rd most overall.

His selection in the MLB Draft marks the ninth year in a row that SIU has had at least one player drafted.

Bradley taken in 30th round by San Francisco

Left-handed pitcher Ryan Bradley (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon HS) was drafted in the 30th round with the 918th overall pick by San Francisco.
Bradley, a 6-1, 197-pounder who spent two years at Kaskaskia College before coming to Southern Illinois, threw 53.2 innings in 22 appearances and eight starts for the Salukis in 2009. He struck out 37 batters and had one save on the year. Bradley had a 0-5 record as a senior.
Being the second Saluki taken in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, SIU has now had at least two players drafted in four of the last six seasons.

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Bradley taken in 30th round by San Francisco

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Ryan Bradley

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