Fresno State Athletics
One Current and One Future Bulldog Selected in MLB Draft
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 2, 1999
Fresno, Calif. - Junior right-handed pitcher Casey Rowe was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. A member of Fresno States 1999 recruiting class, Dan Parker from Diablo Valley Junior College, was selected in the 16th round by the Houston Astros.
Rowe, who ranked in the top 10 in the Western Athletic Conference for innings, wins and complete games, is expected to sign with Detroit.
"This is the decision that my parents and I have reached," Rowe said. "I knew all along that I would be at Fresno State for three years."
This season Rowe went 7-9 for the Bulldogs with a 5.24 earned run average. In 99.2 innings of work, he recorded 80 strikeouts while holding batters to a .260 average. "I thought I would go somewhere in the top 10," Rowe said. "I didnt know if Id go higher or lower. I had heard as high as the fifth round."
One of Rowes best performances came in the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic as he came out of the bullpen to pitch the final two and a third innings to get the win against then-fourth-ranked North Carolina.
A 1997 freshman All-America selection, Rowe is the fourth Bulldog player selected by the Tigers organization over the past two years. Last year, Detroit took three Bulldogs - pitchers Jeff Weaver, the Tigers number-one pick last year, Adam Pettyjohn and third baseman Craig da Luz.
"Today was really the first time I had talk to them (Tigers)," Rowe said. "They have had a great relationship with Fresno State over the past few years."
Parker, who is expected to join Fresno State in the fall was a centerfielder/pitcher for the Vikings last season. In 46 games, he hit .348 with 51 runs, 37 RBI, 16 doubles and stole 21 bases. On the mound he recorded a 3.67 ERA and was tops in the state with nine saves.
The first 22 rounds of the draft were completed on Wednesday and the next 28 rounds will be completed on Thursday.
