Four Spartans Selected in 2012 MLB Draft
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa baseball program had a total of four players selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, with three student-athletes chosen on day three.
After Sean Bierman was selected in day two by the Tampa Bay Rays (10th round), fellow Spartans Eric Grabe (Chicago White Sox, 24th round), Anthony Caronia (Baltimore Orioles, 27th round) and Ben O'Shea (St. Louis Cardinals, 35th round) were tabbed on Wednesday.
Grabe, a senior from Ocala, Fla., played a number of infield positions in 2012 for the Spartans. While primarily playing second base, he hit .320 with three home runs and 36 RBI. The second-team all-Sunshine State Conference selection was also second on the team with 13 doubles and three triples.
Caronia recently completed his junior season as the shortstop previously attended the State College of Florida. The Orlando, Fla., native hit .295 with 19 RBI as a Spartan in 2012. He also led the team with 10 stolen bases.
O'Shea, a junior left-handed pitcher from Reading, Mass., has been selected for the second consecutive season after going to the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. The first-team all-SSC and all-South Region selection went 7-2 with a 2.34 in his first season at UT. In 92.1 innings, he notched 73 strikeouts as opposing hitters were .234 against the 6-foot-6-inch pitcher.
The group joins Sean Bierman, who was selected on day two of the draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. The left-handed pitcher was called in the 10th round.
UT has now produced a NCAA Division II record 36 players who have been drafted since 2006. In that span, Tampa has had at least three players selected in each draft, including a school record in nine in 2010. The Spartans have now had a player drafted in 10 consecutive MLB drafts, dating back to 2003.
Following is a complete list of Tampa student-athletes chosen in the 2012 MLB Draft.
Player, Team, Round, Selection Number
Sean Bierman, Tampa Bay Rays, Round 10, Pick 332
Eric Grabe, Chicago White Sox, Round 24, Pick 741
Anthony Caronia, Baltimore Orioles, Round 27, Pick 822
Ben O'Shea, St. Louis Cardinals, Round 35, Pick 1,080