Three Rebels in First 100 Picks in MLB Draft

A trio of junior right-handed hurlers highlighted the first day of the 2008 MLB Draft as Lance Lynn, Cody Satterwhite and Scott Bittle were all drafted in the top 100 picks and the first two rounds of the First Year Player Draft on Thursday.Lynn, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 39th overall pick in the supplemental first round, was the first Rebel selected in the 2008 MLB draft and joins former Rebel third baseman Chris Coghlan as recent players taken in within the first 40 picks of the MLB Draft. Coghlan was selected with the 36th pick by the Florida Marlins in the 2006 season.“Certainly we’re very excited for Lance Cody and Scott,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “They are three guys we really counted on this year. They are very deserving and I know they are honored and excited about the new opportunity in front of them. We are very proud of all three of them.”Lynn posted a 7-4 record in the 2008 season as the Friday starter for the Rebels and posted 110 strikeouts on the year, second most on the team. Lynn shattered the career strikeout record as the 110 strikeouts pushed him to 332 for his career and made him the only Rebel pitcher to record more than 300 strikeouts. The junior was also a preseason candidate for the Brooks Wallace Award and the Clemens AwardThe junior set the single-season strikeout record as a sophomore when he notched 146 strikeouts and posted an 8-5 record. A two-time All-SEC selection, Lynn posted a career record of 22-12 with the 22 wins tying for 5th on the career wins list at Ole Miss. “It’s an honor to be selected in the supplemental first round,” Lynn said. “I’m excited about the opportunity presented to me, and have had a wonderful three year career at Ole Miss. I’m excited to see what the future holds for me.”Junior right-hander Cody Satterwhite was the second Rebel to hear his name called on Thursday as he went in the second round to the Detroit Tigers with the 67th pick of the Draft.Satterwhite started his career with a bang, breaking the freshman record for wins with 11 in 2006 and since moved into whatever role was needed by the Rebels as he served as both a closer and a starter for his three year career. For his three years, Satterwhite posted a career record of 18-11 and earned Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC honors in 2006. He followed that up with All-SEC Second Team honors his sophomore year. Satterwhite entered the 2008 season as a preseason candidate for the Brooks Wallace Award which honors the nation’s top collegiate baseball player.“I’m really excited because this is a great opportunity,” Satterwhite said. “It’s big to be taken in the top 100 and be considered one of the top 100 baseball players in the country this year. I’m ready to embark on a new beginning and work on getting to the majors.”Bittle became the third Rebel to go in the first two rounds on Thursday as the junior reliever was drafted by the New York Yankees with the 75th overall pick in the second round.Bittle took the Southeastern Conference by storm this season, leading the league in strikeouts with 118 in the season and finished with 130 following the NCAA Regional in Miami. The 130 strikeouts is third on the single season list. Bittle posted a 7-1 record and picked up 8 saves on the year, putting him seventh on the single season saves list. His 15 saves for his career is third all-time.Bittle was named an All-SEC Second Team selection as a reliever this year and was named as a finalist for the Stopper of the Year and a semi-finalist for the Clemens Award. “It’s a great honor to be selected by the New York Yankees,” Bittle said. “I grew up watching them and love the style of play and the tradition of being a Yankee. It’s a really great time for me and want to thank the Yankees for selecting me. I also want to thank Coach Bianco and the Ole Miss baseball family for giving me the opportunity to take this step.”