STAFF REPORT

While the NCAA playoffs went on without them, the Texas State Bobcats had two players selected late last week in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.

Now, the question is whether Mike Hart and Thomas Field will sign pro contracts, or if they will return to Texas State next year for their senior seasons.

The Oakland Athletics picked Hart, a right hander from Staten Island, NY, with the 574th overall pick in the ninth round. Hart finished his junior season 7-3 with a 3.88 ERA. Hart struck out 89 batters in 102 innings, raising him to 227 career strikeouts, third on the all-time Texas State list.

Hart made third team All-Southland Conference for his work this year, which included four complete games in 15 starts and an opponents’ batting average of .257.

Field, a shortstop from Waco, already has scored more runs than any player in Bobcat history, setting a single-season mark with 66 runs this year to bring his career school record to 168. Field went to the Colorado Rockies in the 24th round as the 737th overall selection.

Field batted .338 this year to trigger Texas State’s potent offense. He led the Southland Conference with seven triples, finishing fourth in runs scored and sevnth with 81 hits to be named on the league’s first team as the shortstop. Field could do it all offensively, hitting ten homers and stealing ten bases in 13 attempts.

Hart is the first Bobcat selected by the A’s. Field joins Matt Miller (2004), as a Texas State product selected by the Rockies.

RELATED IN THE MERCURY:

• Four Bobcats selected in Major League Baseball draft | June 11, 2009
• Bobcats win baseball opener at UTSA | May 15, 2008
• Bobcats bash UTA for first round win | May 21, 2008
• Bobcats open SLC baseball tournament | May 21, 2008
• Softball shortstop goes pro | June 12, 2009