June 4, 2002

(San Francisco) - Steve Booth was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round of the 2002 Major League Draft with the 255th pick. A 2002 Johnny Bench Award semifinalist, Booth enjoyed a monster senior season at the University of San Francisco and watched his stock rise after going undrafted as a junior following the 2001 campaign. Booth clubbed a team-leading 19 homeruns and drove in 65 RBI on 68 hits, while batting at a .316 clip.

One of the premier catchers in collegiate baseball, Booth earned All-West Coast Conference First Team honors in 2002 after hitting .331 with 11 homeruns and 41 RBI in 30 league contests. Booth's name litters the USF record books where he rates third on the single-season charts in homeruns (19), RBI (65) and extra-base hits (33) and ranked second in total bases (140). Booth launched 22 long balls during in two years on the Hilltop to rank fifth on the all-time list.

With the selection, Booth becomes the fifth Diamond Don to be drafted in the first 10 rounds in the last three seasons. Three-time First Team All-American Taggert Bozied was a second round selection in 2000 and a third round choice by the San Diego Padres in 2001, while Jesse Foppert was a second round pick by the San Francisco Giants last season.

USF head coach Nino Giarratano is thrilled for his two-year standout.

"Steve Booth was a tremendous player and leader for the University of San Francisco baseball program. He emerged offensively for one of the best single seasons in program history. I look for him to continue his success at the next level," Giarratano stated.