SEACAUCUS, N.J. – University of Hawai'i junior third baseman Vinnie Catricala and sophomore pitcher Sam Spangler were taken in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Wednesday, going in the 10th and 20th rounds, respectively.

 

Catricala was the drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 10th round with the 293rd pick overall, becoming the highest UH draftee since Steven Wright was taken in the second round of the 2006 MLB Draft. The Sacramento, Calif., native led the Rainbows with a .349 batting average in 2009, posting 44 RBI, 51 runs, 13 home runs, 13 doubles and a triple.

 

Spangler was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round with the 595th pick overall. The Albuquerque, N.M., native was 5-3 with four saves and a 4.17 ERA in 19 appearances in 2009. He had 48 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched.

 

Also drafted on the second day of the MLB Draft was 2009 Hawai'i signee Kirk Wetmore of Bellevue College, taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 11th round with the 335th overall pick.

 

The draft continues tomorrow with the final 20 rounds.

 

-UH-