Cubs draft Cashner

CUBS SELECT RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER ANDREW CASHNER
WITH 19TH PICK OF FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT

Here is the official release:

ANDREW CASHNER

PRIMARY POSITION: Pitcher

BATS: Right Throws: Right

Height: 6-6 Weight: 180

Age: 21

Birthdate: 9/11/86

Residence: Montgomery, Texas

College: Texas Christian University

COLLEGE Coach: Jim Schlossnagle

Cubs Area Scout: Trey Forkerway

ORLANDO – The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner with the 19th selection of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Cashner, 21, recently completed his junior season at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.

In his first season with TCU, Cashner led the club with nine victories, nine saves and 30 relief appearances while posting a 2.32 ERA (14 ER/54.1 IP) in 2008. He limited the opposition to a .122 batting average (21-for-172) while walking just 27 and striking out a team-high 80, good for 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Besides being named first-team all-conference earlier in the season, Cashner also earned a spot on the Mountain West Conference all-tournament squad, and was named third-team All-American by Louisville Slugger last week. Baseball America listed Cashner as the 24th-best prospect heading into this year’s draft. The publication also selected his fastball as one of the top-three among college players.

Chicago drafted Cashner in the 29th round of the 2007 Draft after a successful season at Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, Texas. In 2007, he appeared in the Junior College All-Star Game after posting a 9-3 record. As a freshman, he recorded a 2.66 ERA and struck out 24 in 23.2 innings of work after he was selected by Colorado in the 18th round of the 2006 Draft, but did not sign.

Prior to today’s Draft, the Cubs selected Walt Owens in the Ceremonial Negro Leagues Draft held by Major League Baseball. Owens, 74, was a pitcher and outfielder for the Detroit Stars while he was attending Western Michigan University from 1953-55. Owens, who resides in Chicago, later spent seven years as Northern Illinois University’s baseball coach, winning 133 games, third-most in school history.

Andrew Cashner’s 2008 pitching statistics at Texas Christian University:

YEAR W-L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER BB SO HR

2008 9-4 2.32 30 0 9 54.1 21 16 14 27 80 4

CUBS LAST 10 LAST 10 PLAYERS CHOSEN

NO. 1 PICKS WITH 19th OVERALL PICK

2008 – RHP Andrew Cashner (19) 2008 – RHP Andrew Cashner (CHI)

2007 – INF Josh Vitters (3) 2007 – LHP Joe Savery (PHI)

2006 – OF Tyler Colvin (13) 2006 – RHP Brett Sinkbeil (FLA)

2005 – LHP Mark Pawelek (20) 2005 – OF John Mayberry (TEX)

2004 – RHP Grant Johnson (66) 2004 – RHP Christopher Lambert (STL)

2003 – INF Ryan Harvey (6) 2003 – INF Conor Jackson (ARI)

2002 – RHP Bobby Brownlie (21) 2002 – INF James Loney (LAD)

2001 – RHP Mark Prior (2) 2001 – INF Mike Fontenot (BAL)

2000 – INF Luis Montanez (3) 2000 – RHP Sean Burnett (PIT)

1999 – RHP Ben Christensen (26) 1999 – INF Alex Rios (TOR)