June 11, 2009

SECAUCUS, N.J. - Belmont's Derek Wiley was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 31st Round (928th overall) of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday.

Wiley is the second Bruin selected in this year's draft after Daniel Wagner was picked by the White Sox in the 16th Round on Wednesday. Belmont has now seen two players drafted in four of the last five years.

Last year Wiley was selected by the Oakland Athletics but returned for his senior season at Belmont.

The Dublin, Calif., native became the Atlantic Sun leader in career homeruns during his senior campaign with a total 58. Wiley hit 17 homeruns -- fourth in the A-Sun -- 15 doubles, 51 RBI with a batting average of .308 in 2009.

Wiley is the only Belmont baseball player to be selected in consecutive years in the MLB Draft and becomes the second Bruin to be selected by Atlanta after Gil Shows was taken in 1973.

Eight players have been drafted to Major League Baseball since Head Coach Dave Jarvis arrived at Belmont in 1998.

The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was concluded on Thursday after 50 Rounds over three days.