USF players wait; Olt only Big East player taken on first day of MLB draft

Posted Jun 8, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jun 8, 2010 at 08:44 AM

As expected, USF didn’t have anyone selected on the first day of the MLB draft on Monday.

However, the Big East had a pleasant surprise when UConn 3B Mike Olt was taken by the Rangers with the 49th overall pick in the compensatory round between the first and second rounds.

Olt (.318, 23 HRs, 76 RBIs) was the only Big East player taken on the draft’s first day and his selection came the day after the host Huskies were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by Oregon.

Olt was projected to be no earlier than a third- or fourth-round pick by Baseball America.

“I didn’t expect to get picked today,’’ Olt told the Hartford Courant. “I’m still in shock’’

Twenty-two of the draft’s first 50 picks were college players. The ACC led the way with four selections, followed by the SEC with three.

The draft resumes today at noon and includes Rounds 2-30. Click here to follow the draft live.

USF pitchers Randy Fontanez and Andrew Barbosa, and outfielders Ryan Lockwood and Stephen Hunt are the Bulls most likely to get drafted.

Baseball America ranks Fontanez and Barbosa among Florida’s top 65 prospects.