SECAUCUS, N.J. – Keeping with the legacy of Bethune-Cookman baseball’s standard of developing players for the next level, catcher Peter O’Brien joined the ranks of the drafted, Tuesday afternoon, as the Colorado Rockies picked him with the 17th pick in the third round (107th overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft.The Wildcat junior from Miami Gardens, Fla. has more than earned the honor, leading the team and among the MEAC’s leaders in home runs the past two seasons, in addition to leading Team USA in the same stat during the summer of 2010.
“It’s a great honor for him, he definitely deserves that…and better,” said Melendez. “I’m very proud of him. He’s worked extremely hard to go from undrafted to a third-rounder now, and it says a lot about him and the work ethic that he put in while he was at Bethune-Cookman. I look for him to make it to the big leagues real soon and be a good player at that level.”
With his pick in the 2011 draft, O’Brien becomes the highest selected Wildcat in Head Coach Mervyl Melendez’ 12-year tenure at the helm. The previous highest draftee was Mark Woodyard, B-CU pitcher drafted in the fourth round of the 2000 Draft.
In total, O’Brien played in 168 games in the Maroon and Gold, hitting a total of 38 home runs and 38 doubles, while racking up 154 RBI and a .336 batting average. In his time behind the plate, he collected 1038 putouts and 148 assists, for a .985 fielding percentage.
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