Elon in the Pros

ELON, N.C. -- For the eighth consecutive year an Elon baseball player has been chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft as senior left-handed pitcher Ryan Pennell was snared by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 22nd round of the 2014 draft.

"I couldn't be more excited," said Pennell. "It hasn't really hit me yet. I'm extremely excited to go to the Rays' organization because of what they've done with pitchers in their system. The staff at Elon has helped me tremendously. They've taught me about the game and they've always been behind me 100 percent. I made a good choice going to Elon."

Pennell posted a team-leading 3.52 ERA in 21 appearances out of the bullpen during his senior season in the maroon and gold. He logged 30.2 innings, striking out 32 hitters and walking 19 while holding opponents to a .225 batting average. His 12 saves in 2014 were the second-most ever by an Elon pitcher in a season and ranks Pennell sixth on the program's career saves chart. Pennell was a nominee for the 2014 Stopper of the Year Award.

In his four seasons with the Phoenix, Pennell made 64 appearances, all out of the bullpen. He went 5-6 with a 5.58 career ERA. He tossed 88.2 innings, recording 78 strikeouts. In that span, opponents posted a .248 batting average off the hard-throwing lefty.

As the 667th overall pick, Pennell is the highest Elon pitcher selected in the MLB Draft since Jimmy Reyes went to the Texas Rangers with the 226th overall pick (seventh round) in 2010. Former Elon pitcher Jim Stokes was also taken in the 22nd round in 2012, but was the 683rd overall selection by the Cleveland Indians.