Bowling Green State University Athletics
Josh Stewart Selected in 43rd Round of MLB Amateur Draft by Tampa Bay
June 08, 2005 | Baseball
June 8, 2005
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University student-athlete Josh Stewart (Dayton, Ohio) made it a trifecta for the Falcon baseball team as he was selected in the 43rd round of the Major League Baseball Amateur draft on Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Stewart was taken as the 1284th overall pick of the 2005 draft, making him the third Falcon selected in this year's draft.
Stewart, a redshirt sophomore, joins Nolan Reimold who was tabbed as the 61st overall pick (second round) on Tuesday by Baltimore and Burke Badenhop who was selected in the 19th round by Detroit earlier today. This marks the first time since 1998 that three Falcons have been selected in the same draft.
In 1998, Jeff Hundley was picked in the seventh round by Anaheim, Andy Butler was selected in the 23rd round by Minnesota, and Drew Niles was in the 29th round by Florida. Since 1965 when the MLB Amateur Draft began, BGSU has now had 38 players drafted. Stewart becomes the first BGSU player to be drafted by Tampa Bay.
"They followed me throughout the year, especially down at Spring Break," said Stewart. "This season was the better of my two years here at BGSU at the plate. They liked me for my catching, but being able to play left field can only help my diversity."
Stewart registered career numbers in all categories this past season while splitting time between catcher and outfield. He made 47 starts, 32 in left field, nine as catcher, and six as the designated hitter. The 6-2, 185-pounder finished fourth on the team in batting average (.343), hits (60), and runs scored (42) while tying for the team-lead with 10 stolen bases (10-for-12). The Dayton native also had a career-high six home runs, six doubles and 33 RBIs.
Stewart reached base via a hit or a walk in 39 of 50 games this year. His best game of the year came on March 20 vs. Eastern Michigan when he recorded a career-high five RBIs and two home runs in the eighth inning alone. In that game he hit his first career grand slam. He also had a career-high and team-high 11-game hitting streak from April 12-May 7 and finished the season by hitting safely in 24 of his last 28 games.
BGSU's Professional Signees (Signing date and organization listed below)Player Organization (Round) Year Nolan Reimold Baltimore (2nd-61st pick) 2005 Burke Badenhop Detroit (19th) 2005 Josh Stewart Tampa Bay (43rd) 2005 Kelly Hunt Detroit (29th) 2003 Tim Newell Pittsburgh (FA) 2003 Corey Loomis Detroit (21st) 2002 Nick Elrod Chillicothe* (FA) 2002 Tim Newell Chillicothe* (FA) 2002 Craig Menke Houston (FA) 2001 Tony Fontana Boston (7th) 2000 Jason Kelley Milwaukee (34th) 1999 Bob Niemet San Francisco (FA) 1999 Rick Blanc Chillicothe (FA) 1998 Andy Butler Minnesota (23rd) 1998 Jeff Hundley Anaheim (7th) 1998 Drew Niles Florida (29th) 1998 Joe Holland San Francisco (10th) 1997 Andy Smith N.Y. Yankees (44th) 1997 Mike Chaney Pittsburgh (16th) 1996 Mike Combs Kalamazoo* (FA) 1996 Joe Cotton Philadelphia (18th) 1996 Bob Reichow Cleveland (27th) 1996 Andy Tracy Montréal (16th) 1996 Eric Stachler Houston (12th) 1995 Jeff Brown Portsmouth* (FA) 1993 Brian Koelling Cincinnati (14th) 1991 Scott Taylor Boston (28th) 1988 Chuck Steward Detroit (FA) 1987 Todd Hall Chicago White Sox (14th) 1986 Jamie Reiser Oakland (21st) 1986 Carl Moraw Milwaukee (2nd-29th pick) 1985 Larry Arndt Oakland (26th) 1985 Jim Phelps Chicago White Sox (FA) 1983 Roger McDowell N.Y. Mets (3rd-59th pick) 1982 Mark Hall Montréal (16th) 1982 Doug Groth Cincinnati (FA) 1981 Gary Reiter Atlanta (11th) 1979 Orel Hershiser Los Angeles (17th) 1979 Chuck Black Atlanta (26th) 1979 Mike Oleksak Oakland (FA) 1978 Jeff Jones Oakland (13th) 1977 Larry Owen Atlanta (17th) 1977 Randy Law Cincinnati (FA) 1976 Romie Schwieterman Chicago White Sox (FA) 1976 Kip Young Detroit (23rd) 1976 Mark Ammons Philadelphia (18th) 1973 Jim Meerpohl Philadelphia (16th) 1972 Bob Hill San Diego (FA) 1971 Tom Bennett Cleveland (FA) 1971 Doug Bair Pittsburgh (2nd-46th pick) 1971 John Knox Detroit (8th) 1970 John Frobose Cincinnati (FA) 1968 Dan Godby Cincinnati (FA) 1968 Lee Sage Detroit (34th) 1967 Ted Rose Cincinnati (36th) 1967 Stan Evans Atlanta (10th) 1966 Wayne Burdette N.Y. Mets (27th) 1965
