RICHARDSON, Texas –– University of Texas at Tyler junior right-handed pitcher Brett Holland was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 48th round (1,435 selection overall) in Major League Baseball’s 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

The 6-1, 185-pound Holland (Lindale, TX / LHS) went 11-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings this season to guide the Patriots to the American Southwest Conference East Division championship. Holland set single-season conference records in pitching victories, winning percentage and strikeouts in a game (15).

Holland was one of 19 players from NCAA Division III selected in the draft this season. He also became the third Texas-Tyler player drafted in the past two seasons, joining right-handed pitcher Nathan Jennings and first baseman Brett Amyx from 2007.

The ASC’s all-time draft pick total is now at 13 players, while five have signed free agent contracts – all since 1999. The conference’s first season of baseball was in 1997.

ALL-TIME MLB DRAFT PICKS/FREE AGENT SIGNEES
FROM AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE MEMBERS
Year Name Pos. ASC Team Organization Round/Pick
2008 Brett Holland RHP Texas-Tyler Athletics 48/1435
2007 Nathan Jennings RHP Texas-Tyler Blue Jays 15/475
2007 Jacob Kaase SS Texas Lutheran Rangers 23/710
2007 Brett Amyx 1B Texas-Tyler Royals 30/906
2006 Jason Winkler 3B Concordia-Austin Reds free agent
2005 Scott Sumner RHP Louisiana College Indians 20/604
2004 Josh Lee 1B McMurry Tigers 30/883
2004 Tony Adlet RHP Texas-Dallas Astros 46/1379
2004 Derek Tillman RHP Mississippi College Marlins free agent
2004 Michael Biguenet SS Texas-Dallas Diamondbacks free agent
2003 Bo Edmiston RHP Mississippi College Yankees 31 / 938
2002 Kevin Webster C Texas Lutheran Orioles free agent
2001 Jared Carney RHP Univ. of Dallas Devil Rays 20 / 589
2001 Jake Carney RHP Univ. of Dallas Devil Rays free agent
2000 Will Rosellini RHP Univ. of Dallas Diamondbacks 16 / 489
2000 Tapley Holland OF Univ. of Dallas Tigers 24 / 708
1998 Byron Wilkerson RHP Mary Hardin-Baylor Astros 19 / 572
1999 Aaron Merhoff OF Texas Lutheran Phillies 21 / 636

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