Shawn Pleffner and Taylor Wrenn Also Hear Names Called In MLB Draft

TAMPA, Fla. - The selections of Shawn Pleffner and Taylor Wrenn made it three University of Tampa baseball players chosen on the second day of the 2011 MLB Draft, joining teammate Shane Riedie as the three Spartans.

Pleffner was selected in the 26th round by the Washington Nationals, going at number 787. Wrenn was chosen one round later, by the Cincinnati Reds with pick 835, in the 27th round. Riedie was chosen earlier by the Los Angeles Angels.

Pleffner, a junior first baseman/outfielder from Gambrills, Md., hit .366 in his first season at UT after transferring from Tallahassee Community College. He started 45 games and slugged four home runs with 39 RBI on the year.

Wrenn started 19 of 21 games in a shortened junior season after transferring from the University of Southern California. The shortstop from Lakeland, Fla., batted .341 with a home run and 18 RBI.

Each of the three Tampa selections has a year of eligibility remaining, giving the student-athletes an opportunity to return to the University if they do not reach agreements with their respective teams.

Tampa has now had a player selected in the MLB Draft for a string of nine straight years, dating back to the 2003 season. Today's selections bring the number of Tampa players picked in the past six years to 30.

Rounds 31-50 of the 2011 MLB Draft are slated for Wednesday.

2011 University of Tampa MLB Draft Selections
Shane Riedie - Los Angeles Angels - Round 21 - Number 645
Shawn Pleffner - Washington Nationals - Round 26 - Number 787
Taylor Wrenn - Cincinnati Reds - Round 27 - Number 835