Baseball: Fernandez Selected in the 11th Round of Major League Baseball Draft

Baseball: Fernandez Selected in the 11th Round of Major League Baseball Draft

Chris Whitehead, Sports Information –

The Cajuns had a pair of draftees on the first day of the MLB Draft

LAFAYETTE-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns baseball standout Jason Fernandez was
selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player
Draft. The junior from Baton Rouge was selected 338th overall by the Oakland
Athletics.

Fernandez posted a 9-2 record on the season with a 2.86 earned run average.
The hurler made 16 appearances with 14 starts serving as the Ragin’ Cajuns’
Sunday starter. He threw 91.1 innings including three complete games.
Fernandez led all UL pitchers with 101 strikeouts. Opponents batted
just .233 against the right hander. He surrendered 77 hits on the season,
but gave up just 15 extra base hits.

For his work throughout the season, Fernandez was named Sun Belt Conference
Pitcher of the Week twice during the season.

Fernandez was the 30th player drafted under head coach Tony Robichaux.

Joining Fernandez as a first day draftee was former Ragin’ Cajuns pitcher
Chad Beck. He was selected with the 417th overall pick in the 14th round by
the Arizona Diamondbacks. Beck left the UL baseball team due to academic
reasons.

While with the Cajuns, Beck was the primary closer for the baseball team. He
made 25 appearances out of the bullpen – tops for any Ragin’ Cajuns pitcher.
Beck had a 2-2 record with a team high five saves on the year. He boasted an
ERA of 3.23, allowing just 13 runs in 30.2 innings pitched while striking out
38. Opponents batted just .206 against the junior.

The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continues on Wednesday,
June 7. For live draft coverage, go to www.mlb.com