June 7, 2006

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Incoming Marshall pitcher Burke Baldwin (Naperville, Ill.) was selected Wednesday in the 21st round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals. Baldwin was the first selection of the round and the 617th overall pick.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefthander comes off a brilliant year at Elgin Community College, where he posted a 1.76 ERA. In 71.2 innings, he allowed just 55 hits, 23 runs (14 earned) and 25 walks while striking out 91. His squad finished 47-16 while taking fifth place at the NJCAA Division II World Series.

It marks the second time Baldwin has been drafted, as he was a 24th-round pick (712th overall) of the Chicago White Sox in the 2003 draft.