Ball State University Athletics
Hazelbaker Selected By Red Sox In The Fourth Round Of MLB Draft
June 10, 2009 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. ? Ball State junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) has been drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft with the 138 overall pick Wednesday afternoon on the second day of the draft. Hazelbaker's selection marks the 14th consecutive season that Ball State has had a player drafted and he is the 46th Cardinal all-time to have his named called. He is the highest Ball State draft pick since Ben Snyder was selected in the fourth round (116th overall).
“This is an exciting time for Jeremy and our baseball program,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We work hard to develop players and get them ready for this opportunity. I am very happy for him and his family. He has put in a lot of hard work and he deserves all of the success that comes his way.”
Hazelbaker, a First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection, concluded a breakout season in which he won the MAC regular season batting title by 23-points as he posted a .429 average on the year. He also held a 29-point advantage all players in the MAC in on-base percentage as he reached base at a .550 clip. His .429 batting average is fifth best in a single-season in Ball State history while his .550 on-base percentage is the highest mark in Ball State history.
Hazelbaker, the Cardinals' leadoff hitter, led the league in runs (77), walks (48) and triples (8) while finishing second in the MAC in hits with 87. The all-around threat also was third in the MAC in stolen bases with 29 and fourth in the conference in slugging percentage at .724. Hazelbaker set the Ball State single-season records for runs scored, triples and on-base percentage. He finished second in NCAA Division I in on-base percentage, fourth in runs and sixth in triples.
Hazelbaker, a three-time MAC West Player of the Week, hit for the cycle in his first four at-bats against Kent State (March 27) with a first inning double, a second inning home run, a fourth inning single and a fifth inning triple. He tallied a team-high 30 multiple-hit games on the year and added 11 multiple-RBI games.
The 2009 MLB Draft continues Wednesday with rounds four through 30, while rounds 31-50 will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
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