University of North Carolina Athletics
Three Tar Heels Chosen On Day One Of MLB Draft
June 7, 2007 | Baseball
June 7, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina junior teammates Josh Horton and Andrew Carignan were both selected by the Oakland Athletics, and redshirt sophomore right-hander Luke Putkonen was chosen by the Detroit Tigers Thursday in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Horton was the first Tar Heel off the board in the second round (90th overall), followed by Putkonen in the third (121st) and Carignan in the fifth (180th). Day two of the draft will resume at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
A three-time All-ACC choice and an All-America in 2006, Horton is fifth in Carolina history with a .361 average (250-692) in 189 career games, including 184 starts at shortstop over the last three seasons. He has 143 career RBI, 17 home runs, nine triples and 42 doubles. He owns a .436 career on-base percentage and is 23-for-27 in the stolen base department. Horton has been named MVP of both the ACC Tournament and NCAA Chapel Hill Regional this season after collecting tournament-winning hits on back-to-back weekends.
"I wasn't really surprised (to be picked by Oakland), but it was a good feeling," said Horton. "It kind of takes the weight off. I was watching (online) and then they called me right afterwards, so it all kind of happened right there together."
The Tar Heels' closer, Carignan is second in UNC history and seventh in the ACC with 29 saves over the last two seasons. In 102 2/3 innings, he owns 124 career strikeouts and is holding the opposition to a .188 batting average. Carignan sports a 2.54 career ERA, including a career-best 1.53 mark in 2007. He has converted 14 of 15 save opportunities this season en route to All-ACC honors and first-team All-America accolades from Rivals.com.
"I saw it come up on the internet and I was really excited," said Carignan. "It's kind of a nerve-wracking situation, so I was very relieved that it happened, but I'm also really excited. They had called me about 20 minutes before, and I'm pretty happy that I get to play with Horton again."
Carignan and Horton entered UNC as teammates in 2005, and they have a chance to begin their professional careers together as well. "He (Carignan) actually called me right after he found out, so I'm pumped," said Horton. "It couldn't have worked out any better. I'm tickled about that. It's one of the coolest things that I've heard."
"Josh is one of my best friends, so it'll be great to be together with him," said Carignan.
Putkonen is 13-1 over two seasons in Chapel Hill with a 3.82 career ERA in 132 innings. He has made 26 starts and one relief appearance and has tallied 86 strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .248 over the last two years against Putkonen, who has been the Tar Heels' Sunday starter for the entire 2007 season. He has pitched well over his last three starts, including the ACC championship game, with a 3.31 ERA in 16 1/3 innings.
Putkonen was selected by a Tigers organization that already features former Tar Heel and 2006 national player of the year Andrew Miller.
"We're thrilled for Josh, Luke and Andrew," said UNC head coach Mike Fox. "It's every kid's dream to play Major League Baseball, and we're excited that they'll get the chance."
Additionally, Carolina signees Madison Bumgarner (first round (10th overall), San Francisco), Rick Porcello (first round (27th overall), Detroit), Matt Harvey (third round, Anaheim) and Nate Striz (fifth round, Minnesota) were also selected Thursday.
