Virginia's Jeff Kamrath Drafted In The 11th Round By The Tampa Bay Devil Rays

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June 7, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia baseball player Jeff Kamrath (Houston, Texas/Kinkaid) was drafted in the 11th round as the 328th pick overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2005 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft. Kamrath, a fifth-year right-handed pitcher, is the third UVa player selected in the 2005 MLB Draft. He joins teammates Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Avery on the first day of the draft after Zimmerman was picked as the fourth overall selection in the first round by the Washington Nationals and Avery was chosen as the 280th pick in the ninth round by the Chicago Cubs.

With his selection in the draft, Kamrath became the 61st total selection and the 55th player from Virginia selected in the MLB Draft. UVa has now had multiple players chosen in the MLB Draft for the 15th time in school history. Kamrath selection in this year’s 2005 draft marks the second time he has been drafted in his career. In 2004, Kamrath was selected in the 36th round as the 1,067th pick by the Cleveland Indians.

“I’m very thankful that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays drafted me,” said Kamrath. “I’m also thankful towards the entire Virginia coaching staff and everyone at UVa. The coaching staff took a chance on kid from a small high school and gave me an opportunity to play college baseball at this level. Tampa Bay is an up and coming organization. I’m excited to be playing for them and to get my professional career started.”

Kamrath missed the entire 2004 season after recovering from Tommy John Surgery and came back stronger than ever in 2005 as he enjoyed the most productive collegiate season of his career. In 2005, Kamrath started 14 of the 16 games he appeared in and posted a record of 9-5 with a 2.12 ERA. He pitched a team-high 101.2 innings and struck out a team-high 80 batters while holding opposing hitters to a .215 batting g average. Kamrath was named a 2005 First Team All-ACC choice and served as one of UVa’s team captains. An integral part of the Cavaliers’ the past five years, Kamrath was a key component of the winningest senior class in UVa baseball history. Virginia’s senior class won 141 games over the last four seasons – including 85 victories and back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances the last two years for the first time in school history.

“I am very proud of Jeff Kamrath for what he has accomplished during his career at UVa,” said Virginia head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “It’s very rewarding to see him come back from Tommy John Surgery and then get selected in the 11th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I am confident that Jeff Kamrath will go into the Devil Rays’ system and be very successful.”

For his career, Kamrath started 36 of the 53 games he appeared in on the mound and posted a record of 20-12 with 205 strikeouts through 263.2 innings pitched. Kamrath’s 20 career wins were just one victory shy of tying the school record of 21 career wins. His 205 strikeouts ranks him eighth all-time at UVa and his 263.2 innings pitched is the sixth highest total for a Cavalier pitcher.

In 2002, Kamrath was named a Second Team All-ACC selection and was named a Co-ACC Player of the Week choice.

Here is a complete look at Virginia players selected in the MLB Draft:

Virginia Players in the Major League Baseball Draft

Year	Player, Position		Round, MLB Organization1966	Edward Turnbull, LHP	17th (Baltimore Orioles)1970	Steve Miller, C		3rd (Boston Red Sox)1971	Mike Cubbage, SS/2B 	2nd (Washington Senators)1972	Bill Hall, 2B		6th (San Diego Padres)1976	Anthony Zentgraf, 3B	17th (Baltimore Orioles)1978	Columbus Duncan, 1B	11th (Milwaukee Brewers)1979	Paul Voigt, RHP		9th (Minnesota Twins)1980	Rickey Horton, LHP 	4th (St. Louis Cardinals)1982	David Hopkins, RHP	14th (Texas Rangers)1983	Tony Latham, OF		4th (Boston Red Sox)1983	Glenn Harris, 1B		21st (St. Louis Cardinals)1983	George Priftis, 2B		26th (Seattle Mariners)1985	Tim Burcham, RHP	6th (California Angels)1986	Bill Narleski, SS		18th (Baltimore Orioles)1986	Bob Malloy, RHP 	19th (Texas Rangers)1988	Tom Crowley, 2B		38th (Philadelphia Phillies)1989	Keith Seiler, LHP		18th (New York Yankees)1989	Chris Kughn, OF		25th (Atlanta Braves)1990	Doug Johns, LHP 	16th (Oakland Athletics)1990	Keith Seiler, LHP		21st (New York Yankees)1991	Todd Fiegel, LHP	11th  (New York Mets)1991	Todd Ruyak, LHP	17th (Detroit Tigers)1992	Frank Lankford, RHP	18th (St. Louis Cardinals)1992	Todd Ruyak, LHP	31st (Cincinnati Reds)1992	John Cappelmann, RHP	45th (St. Louis Cardinals)1992	Kevin Stock, LHP		48th (Seattle Mariners)1993	Seth Greisinger, RHP 	7th (Cleveland Indians)1993	Frank Lankford, RHP	16th (New York Yankees)1993	Adam Robinson, SS	30th (Chicago Cubs)1993	Deron Dowhower, RHP	34th (Minnesota Twins)1993	Jason Cook, SS		55th (Seattle Mariners)1994	Brian Buchanan, OF	1st (New York Yankees)1994	Yates Hall, RHP		4th (St. Louis Cardinals)1994	Pat Daneker, RHP	40th (Boston Red Sox)1994	Reid Beucler, RHP	65th (Detroit Tigers)1995	Casey Crawford, 1B	16th (Atlanta Braves)1996	Seth Greisinger, RHP 	1st (Detroit Tigers)1996	Jason Sekany, RHP	2nd (Boston Red Sox)1996	Adam Robinson, SS	52nd (Minnesota Twins)1997	Greg Withelder, LHP	3rd (Minnesota Twins)1997	Pat Daneker, RHP	5th (Chicago White Sox)1997	Adam Robinson, SS	12th (Oakland Athletics)1997	Geoff Zawatski, RHP	14th (Philadelphia Phillies)1998	Javier Lopez, LHP	4th (Arizona Diamondbacks)1999	Julian Gonzalez, OF	36th (Kansas City Royals)2000	Jon Metzger, LHP	13th (Kansas City Royals)2000	Tim LaVigne, RHP/SS	32nd (New York Mets)2000	Kevin Shrout, RHP	43rd (Milwaukee Brewers)2001	Jon Benick, INF		9th (San Diego Padres)2001	Hunter Wyant, SS	16th (Florida Marlins)2002	Robert Word, 1B		10th (Florida Marlins)2002	Dan Street, INF		20th (Colorado Rockies)2002	David Stone, OF		36th (San Francisco Giants)2002	Chris Sweet, OF		37th (San Francisco Giants)2004	Andrew Dobies, LHP	3rd (Boston Red Sox)2004	Joe Koshansky, LHP/1B	6th (Colorado Rockies)2004	Mark Reynolds, SS	16th (Arizona Diamondbacks)2004	Jeff Kamrath, RHP	36th (Cleveland Indians)2005	Ryan Zimmerman, SS	1st (Washington Nationals)2005	Matt Avery, RHP		9th (Chicago Cubs)2005 	Jeff Kamrath, RHP	11th (Tampa Bay Devil Rays)

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