June 5, 2002

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior outfielder/pitcher Erik Rico (Miami, Fla.), who this spring became the only Cornell baseball player ever to be named Ivy League Player of the Year, was taken in the 22nd round of the amateur baseball draft on Tuesday (June 4). Rico was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays with the 656th overall pick.

Rico was a unanimous first-team all-league pick and was also named to the ECAC all-star second team.. He finished the 2002 season third in the League with a .380 batting average, fourth in total hits (57), second in triples (8), third in home runs (11), and second in total bases (116). Rico earned player of the week honors twice during the season.

A first-team pick in 2001, Rico finished his collegiate career as the Big Red's all-time leader in triples (18) and total bases (303). He also holds the season records for runs scored (46), triples (8), home runs (11), total bases (16) and slugging percentage (.768).

The draft, which can last as many as 50 rounds, concludes today (June 5).