Andy Bass & Chris Lamb
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Lamb, Bass Drafted on Day Two of MLB's First-Year Player Draft
6/7/2011 3:59:41 PM | Baseball
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Left-handed pitcher Chris Lamb and right-handed pitcher Andy Bass were selected by the Oakland A's (11th round) and Tampa Bay Rays (18th round), respectively, on the second day of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.
The Oakland A's selected Lamb in the 11th round (346th overall), making him the highest pitcher to be drafted from Davidson. Right-handed pitcher Brian Akin previously held the distinction, taken in the 14th round (418th overall) by Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004. Lamb, who finished second in the Southern Conference with 85 strikeouts after leading the regular season, is also the Wildcats' highest draft pick since the New York Yankees selected Robert Eenhoorn (shortstop) in the second round in 1990 (45th overall).
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Bass in the 18th round (570th overall), and the duo is Davidson's 22nd and 23rd overall draft selections. Only Eenhoorn, Bob Lapple (7th, 178th overall in 1979 by Cincinnati Reds) and Dan Simonds (7th, 169th overall in 1987 by Baltimore Orioles) were drafted higher than Lamb.
“I was sitting in the living room watching with my parents,” Lamb said. “When my name was called, I couldn't have been happier. The A's are my team; I have been a fan my whole life.”
In his junior season, Lamb ranked 15th in the SoCon with a 3.75 ERA and held batters to a .257 average (13th) in 81 2/3 innings (14th). He was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week for his complete game shutout, 11-strikeout performance against Furman on March 4, which also drew weekly honors from CollegeBaseballInsider.com and College Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Today was definitely a rollercoaster,” Lamb said. “I got a text from Andy Carter (former Wildcat pitcher drafted by the New York Yankees in the 35th round in 2005) yesterday saying that it was going to be crazy, and just to try and relax and enjoy it. And it definitely was. Coach Zandler was the first person that called me, and while I was on the phone with him I got about 16 text messages. I'd like to thank all the Davidson coaches and players for everything, and my parents for supporting me all these years.”
Bass appeared in 80 games for the Wildcats over the past four years, finishing his career with 117 strikeouts in 129 innings, before becoming Davidson's 23rd MLB draft selection.
“I started watching around 1 this afternoon with my mom and my coach and a couple of friends,” Bass said. “We weren't even really paying attention, and my name flashed up on the screen. Everybody started jumping up and down; my coach shook my hand. It's a surreal experience that you work for your life and don't really know what to do when the time comes. I called my dad first because he was at work, and then I didn't really have to do much because the calls and texts came rolling in.”
With five career saves, Bass ranks eighth in Davidson history, and his 27 appearances in 2010 were seventh most in Davidson single-season history.
“I have to thank Coach Zandler,” Bass said. “If anybody would have told me I'd get drafted four years ago, I would have been thrilled to hear it but I wouldn't have believed it. I'm really thankful for all my coaches and my teammates, for the good and bad things we experienced together. And I'm thankful to have the chance to keep playing.”
The Oakland A's selected Lamb in the 11th round (346th overall), making him the highest pitcher to be drafted from Davidson. Right-handed pitcher Brian Akin previously held the distinction, taken in the 14th round (418th overall) by Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004. Lamb, who finished second in the Southern Conference with 85 strikeouts after leading the regular season, is also the Wildcats' highest draft pick since the New York Yankees selected Robert Eenhoorn (shortstop) in the second round in 1990 (45th overall).
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Bass in the 18th round (570th overall), and the duo is Davidson's 22nd and 23rd overall draft selections. Only Eenhoorn, Bob Lapple (7th, 178th overall in 1979 by Cincinnati Reds) and Dan Simonds (7th, 169th overall in 1987 by Baltimore Orioles) were drafted higher than Lamb.
“I was sitting in the living room watching with my parents,” Lamb said. “When my name was called, I couldn't have been happier. The A's are my team; I have been a fan my whole life.”
In his junior season, Lamb ranked 15th in the SoCon with a 3.75 ERA and held batters to a .257 average (13th) in 81 2/3 innings (14th). He was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week for his complete game shutout, 11-strikeout performance against Furman on March 4, which also drew weekly honors from CollegeBaseballInsider.com and College Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Today was definitely a rollercoaster,” Lamb said. “I got a text from Andy Carter (former Wildcat pitcher drafted by the New York Yankees in the 35th round in 2005) yesterday saying that it was going to be crazy, and just to try and relax and enjoy it. And it definitely was. Coach Zandler was the first person that called me, and while I was on the phone with him I got about 16 text messages. I'd like to thank all the Davidson coaches and players for everything, and my parents for supporting me all these years.”
Bass appeared in 80 games for the Wildcats over the past four years, finishing his career with 117 strikeouts in 129 innings, before becoming Davidson's 23rd MLB draft selection.
“I started watching around 1 this afternoon with my mom and my coach and a couple of friends,” Bass said. “We weren't even really paying attention, and my name flashed up on the screen. Everybody started jumping up and down; my coach shook my hand. It's a surreal experience that you work for your life and don't really know what to do when the time comes. I called my dad first because he was at work, and then I didn't really have to do much because the calls and texts came rolling in.”
With five career saves, Bass ranks eighth in Davidson history, and his 27 appearances in 2010 were seventh most in Davidson single-season history.
“I have to thank Coach Zandler,” Bass said. “If anybody would have told me I'd get drafted four years ago, I would have been thrilled to hear it but I wouldn't have believed it. I'm really thankful for all my coaches and my teammates, for the good and bad things we experienced together. And I'm thankful to have the chance to keep playing.”
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