The Diamond Dogs had two players -- first baseman Rich Poythress and pitcher Trevor Holder -- taken on Day 1 of the MLB draft yesterday. They were available to the media today, and here's some of what they had to say...
Trevor Holder, who was selected in the third round by the Washington Nationals
On his thoughts on being drafted...
"Obviously I'm extremely excited and I'm really happy for Rich. It's just a tremendous honor. I've loved the four years I've been at Georgia. It's meant the world to me, and I couldn't have gotten here without the help of everybody at Georgia. It's been a fun ride, and I'm excited about the next step."
On how he found out he had been drafted...
"I was actually sitting around watching the Lakers game and all of a sudden I got a call from my mom and she was crying. I honestly thought she was calling to tell me about Rich getting drafted, and I was like 'Mom, Rich got picked a while ago. What are you crying about?' And then my phone just started ringing off the hook and I got steady text messages. I was really planning on going today when they do the later rounds. I honestly had no idea. I couldn't stop smiling the whole day."
On what he thinks allowed him to move up from a 10th-round pick last year to the third round this season...
"A couple different things. Not getting injured toward the end of the year and staying strong through the end of the year really helped. I got that start at the end of the year in the SEC tournament when a bunch of scouts were there. I think being a senior really helped, too, just because of who they picked in the first round, they're going to be spending a lot of money, and I'm sure they didn't want to pick someone else who's going to hold out, who's younger and has more leverage to hold out and get more money. That's not the case with me. I want to go play, and I'm extremely happy about this opportunity."
Rich Poythress, who was selected in the second round by the Seattle Mariners...
On his thoughts on being drafted...
"I got to wake up this morning and have the opportunity of a lifetime, so I'm ecstatic. I couldn't be happier for Trevor. He's one of the best teammates I've ever played with. The opportunity that both of us are going to get is awesome. It's still a little bit of a surreal feeling and it probably hasn't sunk in all the way, but hopefully both of us can get all the other stuff worked out and we can go play ball, which is what we're best at."
On where he was for the draft...
"Me and my family actually drove up to Joey Lewis' lake house. We kind of wanted to get away and we wanted to be able to watch it on TV. In Grovetown, it's kind of sad, you can't get MLB network. So I guess they'll work on that. But I just hung around with family and friends, and as fun as it was, I'm kind of glad it's over and to see what happened."
On whether he has spoken with Josh Fields, the former Georgia closer who is also in the Seattle organization...
"I got to talk to Fields last night. He gave me a call sometime around midnight and spoke to him for a few minutes. We didn't really get too much into it. I've been in touch with Seattle for the last few weeks and going into yesterday, that's the team I wanted to go to. It's a great organization. They're very goal-oriented on winning. It's a great opportunity to move up through a system if you play well and perform, so I couldn't be more excited."
On whether he knew that Seattle would take him...
"I knew. I was telling Trevor before, it was an interesting 10-15 minutes for me. I turned down a good opportunity with Boston just because of how I felt about the Seattle organization. The way they felt about me, I had some talks over the phone there for about 10 or 15 minutes, and it was a little bit of a circus, but it was a great opportunity for me."
On whether he has a deal in place yet, given that he told Boston he was not interested in playing there...
"We have no deal agreed upon, but I knew they were going to take me when they picked again, and I think I made it clear to everybody else that it was going to have to be as good a deal as Seattle was going to give me."
On whether there's any chance he would return to school...
"I feel like I'm ready to go play pro ball and I feel like this is my best opportunity to go start my career. If things don't work out, I'm not opposed to it. It's been the greatest three years of my life -- baseball-wise and everything. It's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life, so if things don't work out, it's something I'm not opposed to."
Showing posts with label Rich Poythress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rich Poythress. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Poythress, Holder Drafted
From UGA Athletics...
Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress was selected in the second round by the Seattle Mariners with the 51st overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. He was the second pick in the second round.
The Grovetown, Ga., native becomes the fourth Bulldog to be drafted in the first two rounds in the last four years. Gordon Beckham and Josh Fields were both taken in the first round last year, and Brooks Brown was selected in the first round in 2006. Fields was also drafted by the Mariners.
Poythress led the Bulldogs with a .376 average, 25 home runs and 86 RBI this season and was named a Louisville Slugger All-American and first team All-SEC. Poythress set the single season school RBI record this season and is second on Georgia's career RBI list. He had four multi-home run games in 2009 including two three home run games, the second player in Georgia history to accomplish that feat.
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Georgia senior pitcher Trevor Holder was drafted in the third round by the Washington Nationals with the 81st overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. He was the first pick in the third round.
Holder was the second Bulldog to be drafted as Rich Poythress was taken in the second round by the Seattle Mariners.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Holder posted a 7-5 record with a 4.48 ERA in 2009 and finished his career tied with Cris Carpenter for fourth all-time at Georgia with 22 career wins. Holder, who was drafted in the 10th round by the Florida Marlins last season, was 8-4 for the 2008 SEC Championship team that finished with a No. 2 national ranking. He was a second team All-SEC pick in 2008 and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2009.
Georgia has had five players drafted in the first three rounds over the last four years including Trevor Holder (Nationals) and Rich Poythress (Mariners) in 2009, first rounders Gordon Beckham (White Sox) and Josh Fields (Mariners) in 2008 and first rounder Brooks Brown (Diamondbacks) in 2006.
Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress was selected in the second round by the Seattle Mariners with the 51st overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. He was the second pick in the second round.
The Grovetown, Ga., native becomes the fourth Bulldog to be drafted in the first two rounds in the last four years. Gordon Beckham and Josh Fields were both taken in the first round last year, and Brooks Brown was selected in the first round in 2006. Fields was also drafted by the Mariners.
Poythress led the Bulldogs with a .376 average, 25 home runs and 86 RBI this season and was named a Louisville Slugger All-American and first team All-SEC. Poythress set the single season school RBI record this season and is second on Georgia's career RBI list. He had four multi-home run games in 2009 including two three home run games, the second player in Georgia history to accomplish that feat.
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Georgia senior pitcher Trevor Holder was drafted in the third round by the Washington Nationals with the 81st overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. He was the first pick in the third round.
Holder was the second Bulldog to be drafted as Rich Poythress was taken in the second round by the Seattle Mariners.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Holder posted a 7-5 record with a 4.48 ERA in 2009 and finished his career tied with Cris Carpenter for fourth all-time at Georgia with 22 career wins. Holder, who was drafted in the 10th round by the Florida Marlins last season, was 8-4 for the 2008 SEC Championship team that finished with a No. 2 national ranking. He was a second team All-SEC pick in 2008 and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2009.
Georgia has had five players drafted in the first three rounds over the last four years including Trevor Holder (Nationals) and Rich Poythress (Mariners) in 2009, first rounders Gordon Beckham (White Sox) and Josh Fields (Mariners) in 2008 and first rounder Brooks Brown (Diamondbacks) in 2006.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Poythress Named All-American
Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress has been named to the Louisville Slugger TPX All-America Second Team, it was announced by Collegiate Baseball.
Poythress finished the season with a .376 average, 25 home runs and a single season school record 86 RBI. He became the first player in Georgia history to have two 70-RBI seasons and is the second player in program history to have two three-home run games after launching three homers in the Bulldogs 24-8 win over Ohio State in the Tallahassee Regional.
The Grovetown, Ga., native is second on Georgia's career RBI list with 185 and fifth on the career home runs list with 43. He helped guide the Bulldogs to a 38-24 record in 2009 and the program's first in-season No.1 ranking.
Poythress was named first team All-SEC and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. He was also named to the SEC's All-Defensive Team.
Poythress is the 18th All-American in Georgia baseball history.
Poythress finished the season with a .376 average, 25 home runs and a single season school record 86 RBI. He became the first player in Georgia history to have two 70-RBI seasons and is the second player in program history to have two three-home run games after launching three homers in the Bulldogs 24-8 win over Ohio State in the Tallahassee Regional.
The Grovetown, Ga., native is second on Georgia's career RBI list with 185 and fifth on the career home runs list with 43. He helped guide the Bulldogs to a 38-24 record in 2009 and the program's first in-season No.1 ranking.
Poythress was named first team All-SEC and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. He was also named to the SEC's All-Defensive Team.
Poythress is the 18th All-American in Georgia baseball history.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Video Blog: Rich Poythress
Georgia first-baseman Rich Poythress discusses the team's recent struggles and what needs to be done for the Bulldogs to turn things around in the SEC tournament, which begins Wednesday as UGA takes on Ole Miss.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Poythress Named Howser Semifinalist
From UGA Athletics...
Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress is among 16 semifinalists for the 2009 Dick Howser Trophy, it was announced Thursday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
The Dick Howser Trophy is given annually to the top player in college baseball by the NCBWA in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the College Baseball Foundation. Criteria for consideration for the Dick Howser Trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by the former Florida State All-America shortstop.
Poythress leads Georgia (35-17, 15-12 SEC) with a .387 average, 21 home runs and 75 RBI this season. He is ranked in the top two in the SEC in eight statistical categories including first in hits and second in RBI, home runs, batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, total bases and runs. The Grovetown, Ga., native is just two RBI shy of tying Gordon Beckham's single season school record 77 RBI, and he is the first player in Georgia history to record two 70-RBI seasons.
Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress is among 16 semifinalists for the 2009 Dick Howser Trophy, it was announced Thursday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
The Dick Howser Trophy is given annually to the top player in college baseball by the NCBWA in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the College Baseball Foundation. Criteria for consideration for the Dick Howser Trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by the former Florida State All-America shortstop.
Poythress leads Georgia (35-17, 15-12 SEC) with a .387 average, 21 home runs and 75 RBI this season. He is ranked in the top two in the SEC in eight statistical categories including first in hits and second in RBI, home runs, batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, total bases and runs. The Grovetown, Ga., native is just two RBI shy of tying Gordon Beckham's single season school record 77 RBI, and he is the first player in Georgia history to record two 70-RBI seasons.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Poythress Earns SEC, National Honors
Courtesy UGA Athletics...
Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress has been named SEC player of the Week and a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week after leading the Bulldogs to their second straight SEC sweep and their first series win at Tennessee since 2001.
Poythress hit .615 (8-for-13) with five home runs and 12 RBI in four games last week. In Tuesday's game against Wright State, he hit a two-run home run in the first inning, then had his first career multi-home run game along with two doubles and two walks for a career-high 12 total bases against Tennessee on Friday. He followed that with another two-home run game on Saturday and tied his career high with five RBI. In his first nine plate appearances against the Vols, Poythress was 6-for-6 with four home runs, two doubles and three walks.
Poythress is one of five players selected as a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week. Other players to receive the honor include Susquehanna's John Lunardi, Coastal Carolina's Cody Wheeler and Texas-Arlington's Nathan Long.
The Grovetown, Ga., native is now ranked in the top three in the SEC in nine offensive categories including first in batting average (.447), on-base percentage (.556) and RBI (47); second in slugging percentage (.936), runs (37), home runs (13) and total bases (88); and third in hits (42) and walks (22).
Poythress is currently eighth all-time at UGA with a .357 career batting average. His 31 career home runs is one shy of 10th all-time at UGA, his 146 RBI is four shy of 10th, and his 38 career doubles is nine shy of 10th all-time at Georgia.
Poythress and the Bulldogs play host to Clemson Tuesday at 7 p.m. before paying the Tigers a visit on Wednesday. LSU visits Athens for a three-game series beginning Friday.
Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress has been named SEC player of the Week and a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week after leading the Bulldogs to their second straight SEC sweep and their first series win at Tennessee since 2001.
Poythress hit .615 (8-for-13) with five home runs and 12 RBI in four games last week. In Tuesday's game against Wright State, he hit a two-run home run in the first inning, then had his first career multi-home run game along with two doubles and two walks for a career-high 12 total bases against Tennessee on Friday. He followed that with another two-home run game on Saturday and tied his career high with five RBI. In his first nine plate appearances against the Vols, Poythress was 6-for-6 with four home runs, two doubles and three walks.
Poythress is one of five players selected as a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week. Other players to receive the honor include Susquehanna's John Lunardi, Coastal Carolina's Cody Wheeler and Texas-Arlington's Nathan Long.
The Grovetown, Ga., native is now ranked in the top three in the SEC in nine offensive categories including first in batting average (.447), on-base percentage (.556) and RBI (47); second in slugging percentage (.936), runs (37), home runs (13) and total bases (88); and third in hits (42) and walks (22).
Poythress is currently eighth all-time at UGA with a .357 career batting average. His 31 career home runs is one shy of 10th all-time at UGA, his 146 RBI is four shy of 10th, and his 38 career doubles is nine shy of 10th all-time at Georgia.
Poythress and the Bulldogs play host to Clemson Tuesday at 7 p.m. before paying the Tigers a visit on Wednesday. LSU visits Athens for a three-game series beginning Friday.
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