Four Diamond Dons Drafted in 2004 Major League Draft

June 8, 2004

(San Francisco) - A record four USF baseball players were selected in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. Right-hander Kevin Rose was the first Diamond Don selected by Philadelphia in the 23rd round. Joe Jacobitz followed in the 25th round by the Seattle Mariners as a catcher. Infielder Armand Gaerlan went to the New York Mets in the 28th round. Left-hander Derek Tate was chosen by Toronto in the 34th round.

The four Diamond Dons selected in the First Year Player Draft represent a new program record for most players drafted by Major League clubs. San Francisco had three players signed in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

Head coach Nino Giarratano was excited for the four players who will advance to compete at the next level.

"This is a great day for these four young men and the baseball program at the University of San Francisco. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to play baseball at the next level and continue their development as players and people. These individuals have played an integral part in the success of this program. We wish them nothing but the best in the future," Giarratano said.

Rose left a big impact on the USF career record books, leaving the Hilltop as the all-time career starts leader (47). Rose captured WCC Pitcher of the Month for March, 2004 after going 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA and struck out 31 in 25.0 innings and held opposing hitters to a .172 batting average. He capped the month with a one-hit 2-1 victory at Santa Clara.Rose ranks second in innings pitched (295.2), shares third place in victories (15) and is third with 254 strikeouts. He set or equaled career standards this season in wins (5) and strikeouts (85) - tied for ninth place on the single-season list.

Jacobitz, a first team selection in 2002, enjoyed a fine senior campaign on the Hilltop, batting .341 with 11 doubles, a triple, three homeruns and 35 RBI and improved his batting average to .358 with eight doubles, two homers and 21 RBI. In three seasons on the Hilltop he made a tremendous impact on the USF career record book ranking fifth in RBI (118), tied for sixth in hits (216), batting average (.343) and at bats (629) and rates eighth in runs (115) and walks (88).

Gaerlan, a second team choice in 2003, exploded for a career season at the plate as a senior, setting career-highs in batting average (.351), hits (85), runs (44), RBI (41), doubles (14) and walks (34). This season he established a new program record with a 24-game hitting streak and is tied for second place on the single-season hits list with 85 (tied with Jacobitz who tallied 85 in 2002). One of the most consistent offensive and defensive performers to wear the Green and Gold his name litters the USF career and record books ranking third in hits (250) and at-bats (791), is fourth in RBI (123), shares fifth place with 21 homeruns, is sixth in runs (142) and shares sixth place in doubles (37) all while batting at a .315 career clip.

Tate, USF's 2004 Pitcher of the Year compiled a 6-7 record with a 3.77 ERA and ranks fifth on the single-season innings list with 117.0 and recorded 79 strikeouts. He closed the season strong winning three straight starts including back-to-back complete game wins against Portland and Pepperdine. In his career, the southpaw recorded eight victories in 42 appearances (12 starts), posted a stingy 3.81 ERA in 165.1 innings and struck out 106. In the process, he became the first USF pitcher with more than 100.0 innings to crack the career top-10 ERA list since 1976, entering at ninth place. For his career he boasts a remarkable 106-36 strikeout to walk ratio. Last season he picked up the save at #6 Stanford and collected four West Coast Conference relief victories.