ELON, N.C. -- Elon Phoenix ace Steven Hensley (Asheville, N.C.) was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday evening.  Hensley, the 132nd overall pick, is the first Southern Conference player drafted and becomes the highest pick by an Elon player since the program moved to the NCAA Division I ranks for the 2000 season.

 

"It's definitely a privilege to play professional baseball," said Hensley.  "I look forward to going out and making the most of my opportunities.  Being at Elon has taught me some valuable life lessons.  The coaching staff has really helped me to mature as both a player and a person."

 

The right-handed throwing Hensley was the 2008 Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-SoCon selection after compiling a 10-2 record and 3.59 ERA in 16 appearances.  Hensley threw 92.2 innings, striking out 99 hitters while issuing only 38 walks.  The 99 K's are the fourth-most in Elon history.  Opponents hit just .236 off of him in 2008.

 

For his career, Hensley holds Elon's record for strikeouts, fanning 302 hitters in three seasons.  He posted a career mark of 24-12, the fourth most victories ever by an Elon hurler.

 

"We're happy and excited for Steven," said Elon skipper Mike Kennedy.  This is a great moment for Steven and for Elon baseball.  Over the course of the past three years he's put in a lot of hard work into achieving his goal of playing professional baseball.  We look forward to following his career."

 

This was the second time that Hensley was drafted.  Hensley was selected in the 44th round by the Washington Nationals out of high school in the 2005 draft.

 

Hensley's selection marked the third time that an Elon player had ever been selected in the fourth round or sooner, while the 132nd pick made him the fourth-highest pick ever for an Elon player.

 

1971 - Gary Brown (Round 1, 21st overall by the Chicago Cubs)

1981 - Joey Hackett (Round 4, 71st overall by the Texas Rangers)

2001 - Brad Pinkerton (Round 5, 149th overall by the Anaheim Angels)

2001 - Scott Light (Round 6, 186th overall by the Cincinnati Reds)

1966 - Dick Such (Round 8, 100th overall by the Washington Senators)

1992 - Aaron Cannaday (Round 8, 231st overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates)

1990 - Mike Kennedy (Round 9, 255th overall by the Oakland Athletics)