CEDARVILLE, Ohio -
David Ledbetter became the first Cedarville University player in 26 years to be selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft when he was chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd Round as the 99th pick overall.
Ledbetter, a native of Fishers, Ind., posted a 6-5 record with a 3.15 ERA this spring as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. The 6-foot-1 185-pound righthanded junior led NCAA Division II in strikeouts per 9 innings at 13.65.
"This is an incredible opportunity and I'm super blessed," said Ledbetter. "I'm glad everything happened the way it happened. Now we wait to see if (twin brother) Ryan gets drafted."
Ledbetter was 20-10 with a 2.54 ERA and averaged 11.21 K's/9 innings during his three-year Yellow Jacket career. The 20 victories ties three other pitchers with the school's all-time wins record and he said his experience at Cedarville was second to none.
"It meant everything for me to play at Cedarville," Ledbetter remarked. "It's more than just baseball. We're here to represent Christ in our life and our game."
"It meant everything for me to play at Cedarville. It's more than just baseball. We're here to represent Christ in our life and our game." -
David Ledbetter.
Head Coach
Mike Manes added, "This means a lot to our program to have one of our players selected in the Top 100. David came in as the ideal student-athlete, he worked hard, and he deserves every bit of this."
The last Yellow Jacket baseball player to be drafted was Steve Hester in 1987. The righthand pitcher was selected in the 13th round by the Cincinnati Reds.
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