ASHEVILLE, N.C.—UNC Asheville outfielder Kevin Mattison was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 28th round with the 838th pick of the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Players Draft on Friday afternoon.
Mattison, a second team All-Big South performer in 2008 becomes the second Bulldog player selected on Friday. Pitcher Alan DeRatt was selected by Colorado in the 17th round.
Mattison hit .286 with a career high 11 home runs as a lead off hitter for Asheville. He is the school’s all-time leader in career triples and career runs scored. He finished the 2008 season just one run shy of the single season runs scored record. Mattison is also the Big South Conference’s all-time leader in career triples with 23.
“Kevin was one of the top outfielders in our league all four years he was here. He has great speed, a great arm, and he has worked very hard to get to this point,” said UNC Asheville head baseball coach Willie Stewart. “I am proud of both of our guys who got drafted today and wish them all of the luck in the world.”
DeRatt and Mattison are the first Bulldog tandem to be drafted since Steven Cook (Montreal) and Steve Sherman (St. Louis) where both selected in the 2004 draft. The Bulldogs also had two players, Daniel Pruitt (Oakland) and Jake McConiga (Kansas City) selected in 2003. Asheville had three players taken in the 1998 draft headed by current Houston Astro Ty Wiggington (NY Mets). Marc Ludvigsen (NY Mets) and Shon Norris (Boston) where also selected in the 98 draft. 1992 was the first year UNC Asheville had two players selected with Jamon Deal (Seattle) and Wayne Faircloth (White Sox).
Overall, Mattison is the 19th UNC Asheville player to be selected in the Major League Draft. He will likely begin his professional career with the Gulf Coast Marlins, Florida’s Rookie League team in Jupiter, Fla.
Courtesy: UNC Asheville
