June 7, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland junior pitcher Brett Cecil (Dunkirk, Md./DeMatha HS) was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays organization with the 38th overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday afternoon. Cecil, chosen in the compensatory round immediately following the first round of the draft, is the highest-selected player from Maryland since outfielder John McCurdy was chosen by the Oakland Athletics with the 26th overall pick in the 2002 draft.

"It's a great organization for me, because [former Maryland pitcher] Seth Overbey is down in Class A Dunedin, so hopefully I can make it up there and play a couple games with him," Cecil said. Presented with the chance to be drafted in the seventh round out of high school, Cecil instead chose to play for Maryland, a decision for which he has no regrets.

"My experience at Maryland was great," he said. "I'm glad I went to college, and it helped me out a lot, especially moving from the seventh round out of high school to the compensatory round and the 38th overall pick."

Cecil is the 23rd player under head coach Terry Rupp to be drafted. Last season, the Terps saw two players drafted, as Overbey and pitcher Ben Pfinsgraff were selected. Overbey was picked in the 15th round by the Blue Jays, while Pfinsgraff was tabbed by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 22nd round in 2006.

"The coaching staff is extremely excited for Brett. It's a great honor for where he was drafted," Rupp said. "He is an outstanding talent that contributed greatly to our program. We wish him the most success as he ventures out on his new journey and we want to see him in the big leagues.

Rupp added, "It's ironic that he'll be joining one of his teammates from last year who was drafted by the same organization. It would be amazing if we saw both of them in the big leagues at the same time playing together."

Cecil leaves for the professional ranks as one of the most decorated and successful hurlers in Maryland history. The Dunkirk native owns both the single-season and career saves records, as well as the single-season appearances mark. After a freshman season in which he was second on the team in appearances and saves, Cecil began his assault on the Terrapin record books in 2006.

Two seasons ago, Cecil shattered the Maryland single-season saves record with 13, nearly doubling the previous mark of seven. He finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference and tied for 12th in the nation with that total, as he tallied a 4-5 record with a 4.78 ERA.

Cecil was invited to participate in the prestigious Cape Cod League in the summer immediately following, and held opposing batters to a .184 average, while posting a 1-0 record, 2.17 ERA, and a 40-9 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 29 innings as a member of the Orleans Cardinals. Following the summer, he was listed sixth on a ranking of the top 30 prospects in the league by Baseball America.

This past season, Cecil continued his outstanding performance as one of the nation's premier closers, amassing eight saves to complement a 5-6 record and 3.32 ERA. Cecil led the Terps with 62 strikeouts, and on the final day of the season against North Carolina, he added another impressive record to his tally as he made his 30th appearance of the season, besting the previous mark set by Overbey in 2006.

For his career, Cecil has amassed a 3.96 ERA and 10-12 record with 23 saves in 74 appearances, a figure that places him fourth all-time on the career list. He owns a 156-to-52 strikeout-to-walk ratio, as batters averaged .262 against him.