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Princeton University Athletics
Five Tigers Chosen in Major League Baseball Draft
June 07, 2004 | Baseball
June 7, 2004
Princeton, N.J. - Five members of the Princeton baseball team were selected in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday and Tuesday. Juniors B.J. Szymanski, Ross Ohlendorf and Will Venable and seniors Steve Young and Tim Lahey were each chosen within the first 20 rounds of the draft.
Szymanski was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds with the 48th overall selection. He becomes the highest Princetonian to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft, surpassing former teammate Thomas Pauly by three spots. Pauly was chosen 51st overall last season, also by the Reds. Szymanski led the Tigers in nearly all offensive categories, including batting average (.362), hits (64) and RBIs (48). Ohlendorf went 116th overall to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is the fourth Tiger pitcher to be chosen in the last four drafts. He completed the season with a record of 7-3 and a 3.46 ERA. He struck out 79 batters in 67.2 innings and capped the season with an overpowering win over Virginia last Saturday in the NCAA Regionals.
Venable was chosen in the 15th round, 439th overall, by the Baltimore Orioles. The son of former Major Leaguer Max Venable also plays basketball at Princeton. Young went in the 16th round to the Detroit Tigers. He was the 19th second baseman selected in the draft. Lahey was selected in the 20th round with the 601st overall pick by the Minnesota Twins.
The five players chosen lifted the number of Tigers drafted to 11 in the past six seasons that have played under head coach Scott Bradley.
Recent Princeton Draftees
B.J. Szymanski - 48th - Rd. 2 - 2004 - Cincinnati
Ross Ohlendorf - 116th - Rd. 4 - 2004 - Arizona
Will Venable - 439th - Rd. 15 - 2004 - Baltimore
Steve Young - 463rd - Rd. 16 - 2004 - Detroit
Tim Lahey - 601st - Rd. 20 - 2004 - Minnesota
Thomas Pauly - 51st - Rd. 2 - 2003 - Cincinnati
Scott Hindman - 654th - Rd. 22 - 2002 - Anaheim
Pat Boran - 718th - Rd. 24 - 2002 - Boston
Chris Young - 89th - Rd. 3 - 2000 - Pittsburgh
Buster Small - 838th - Rd. 28 - 2000 - Toronto
Michael Hazen - 922nd - Rd. 31 - 1998 - San Diego