Jones and Townsend Taken in MLB Draft
6/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 9, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Senior first baseman Clay Jones and junior right-hander Jason Townsend had their names called on the final day of the 2010 Major League Draft in day two of the first-year player draft on Wednesday.
Alabama had five current players and three signees taken in the first two days of the draft, giving the Crimson Tide 11 players and signees tabbed in this year's MLB draft.
"I think we had a good draft and I have very happy for all of our players and signees," Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard said. "I am really happy for Clay Jones. He has had a tremendous year and I am glad he will get an opportunity at the next level. He certainly deserves it."
Townsend was the second player chosen on Wednesday as the Pittsburgh Pirates took him in the 31st round. He was the 927th overall selection. Jones was taken in the 32nd round by the Detroit Tigers as the 973rd overall selection.
Townsend is 2-1 with a 6.25 ERA in 21 appearances this season. He recorded a career-high six strikeouts against LSU on April 16 and tossed a career high five innings against Mississippi on May 14. He earned his first collegiate win with two scoreless innings in the Tide's 6-5 win over Auburn on April 3.
Jones is hitting .329 (78-for-237) with a team-leading 17 home runs and 65 RBI in 64 starts. Jones has tied two UA single-game records this season. He tied the school record with four walks in the Tide's 10-5 win at No. 23 Southeastern Louisiana on April 14. Three days later, he set the single-game record with 18 putouts by a first baseman in a 14-inning loss to LSU on April 18. He hit a three-run home run in the Tide's 10-8 win at No. 8 Georgia Tech as the Crimson Tide captured the Atlanta Regional Championship on Monday night.
UA signee Austen Smith was taken in the 48th round by the New York Mets. The Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic High School standout was the 1,442nd overall pick.
Alabama's 2010 MLB Draft Picks
*Matt Lipka, SS (1st round, 35th pick, Atlanta Braves)
Jimmy Nelson, RHP (2nd round, 65th pick, Milwaukee Brewers)
*Reggie Golden, OF (2nd round, 66th pick, Chicago Cubs)
Josh Rutledge, SS (3rd round, 107th pick, Colorado Rockies)
*John Mugarian, RHP (5th round, 157th, Cincinnati Reds)
Ross Wilson, 2B (10th round, 308th, San Diego Padres)
Jake Smith, 3B (15th round, 471st pick, Philadelphia Phillies)
Tyler White, RHP (20th round, 613th pick, Detroit Tigers)
Jason Townsend, RHP (31st round, 927th pick, Pittsburgh Pirates)
Clay Jones, 1B (32nd round, 973rd pick, Detroit Tigers)
*Austen Smith, 1B (48th, 1,442nd pick, New York Mets)
* - Alabama baseball signee.
