June 6, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - Junior left-hander James Leverton highlighted the second and final day of the 2008 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft as he was selected in the eighth round by the Chicago Cubs.

Leverton, a junior from Rockwall, was the 254th overall selection in the draft and was taken by the National League's Chicago Cubs. Leverton led the Tech pitching staff in 2008 with a 3.86 earned run average along over 31 relief appearances. He finished the year with a 2-3 record with one save over 32 innings of work.

Senior outfielder Doug Thennis was also taken in the afternoon as he was selected as the 810th overall pick in the 27th-round by the Chicago White Sox. Thennis finished the 2008 season with a .283 average along with seven home runs and 42 RBIs.

Senior right-handed reliever Owen Brolsma was the final Red Raider taken on the day as he went to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 48th round. Brolsma finished the season with a 1-0 record after making 22 relief appearances and logging 21 2/3 innings of work.

Additionally, 2008-09 signees Jason Gurka and Colt Farrar were selected in the 15th and 32nd-rounds respectively. Gurka was selected as the 446th overall pick by Baltimore and is a left-handed pitcher from Angelina College. Farrar was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers and is a right-hander from First Baptist Academy.