June 8, 2011
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland baseball team had four players and two signees selected in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft, which opened Monday and wrapped up Wednesday.
Senior LHP Eric Potter was taken on day two of the draft, in the 19th round by the Oakland Athletics. A trio of juniors - shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez (32nd round, Milwaukee Brewers), RHP Sander Beck (33rd round, Baltimore Orioles) and OF Matt Marquis (41st round, Boston Red Sox) - were taken on day three.
Additionally, 2011 Maryland prep signees K.J. Hockaday (John Carroll HS; Joppa, Md.) and Andrew Amaro (William Penn Charter School; Bensalem, Pa.) were selected in the draft. Hockaday, a RHP and third baseman, went in the 14th round to the Orioles, while Amaro, an infielder/outfielder, went to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 47th round.
Potter wrapped up his Maryland career with an eight-strikeout performance against Wake Forest on May 19, and left the Terrapin program ranked 11th in school history with 199 career strikeouts. He led the team with 68 Ks this past season, while ranking second with 65 innings pitched.
Rodriguez has been the stalwart at shortstop since 2009, having started 118 straight games. The Oakton, Va., native ranks fifth in school history with 46 career steals, including a team-best 20 in 2011. Rodriguez has been a sure-handed defender, having seen his fielding percentage increase every season while racking up 417 career assists.
Beck has made 44 appearances in his career thus far - 28 of them starts - spending much of the past two seasons in the weekend rotation. His 11 strikeouts against Army on Feb. 25 were a single-game high for Maryland last season, and the right-hander has 134 Ks in his career.
Marquis, who transferred from Vanderbilt prior to his sophomore season, had his most productive season in a Terrapin uniform in 2010 when he played in 52 games and hit .255 with five home runs.
The deadline for MLB teams to sign players with remaining college eligibility selected in the 2011 MLB Draft is Aug. 15.
2011 Maryland Players
Eric Potter - 19th round - 586 overall - Oakland Athletics
Alfredo Rodriguez - 32nd round - 971 overall - Milwaukee Brewers
Sander Beck - 33rd round - 995 overall - Baltimore Orioles
Matt Marquis - 41st round - 1252 overall - Boston Red Sox
2011 Maryland Signees
K.J. Hockaday - 14th round - 425 overall - Baltimore Orioles
Andrew Amaro - 47th round - 1441 overall - Philadelphia Phillies
