Dodgers Select Funkhouser in First Round of MLB Draft
June 09, 2015 | Baseball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville junior righthanded pitcher Kyle Funkhouser became the highest draft pick in program history on Monday night after being chosen 35th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first day of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
As the first Louisville player ever selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, Funkhouser went 11 positions higher than Nick Burdi, who was chosen 46th overall by the Minnesota Twins in 2014 and was the highest draft selection in program history prior to Monday.
In three seasons in Louisville, Funkhouser ranks second in career wins with his 26-9 collegiate record overall, including an 8-5 mark and 104 strikeouts in 17 starts and 112.1 innings pitched this season. An All-America honoree during both his sophomore and junior seasons, Funkhouser has a 2.47 career ERA with the Cardinals and ranks second in career strikeouts with 281, fourth in career starts with 41 and sixth in career innings pitched at 287.1.
During Louisville's 2014 College World Series season, Funkhouser set a school record for single season wins and led the nation in victories with a 13-3 mark overall with a 1.94 ERA and 122 strikeouts (third most at Louisville) in 120.1 innings pitched (second most at Louisville). Last summer, he had a 1.27 ERA (four earned runs in 28.1 innings) and a team-high 36 strikeouts in six appearances and five starts for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Following the completion of the first two rounds and both competitive balance rounds on Monday night, the 2015 MLB Draft will continue on Tuesday at 1 p.m., ET with rounds 3-10 before concluding on Wednesday at noon with rounds 11-40.
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