SECAUCUS, N.J. -Bethune-Cookman catcher Peter O'Brien joined the ranks of the drafted, Tuesday afternoon, as the Colorado Rockies picked him with the 17th pick in the third round (107th overall) of the 2011 MLB Draft.

The Wildcat junior from Miami Gardens, Fla. Led the team and was among the MEAC's leaders in home runs the past two seasons, in addition to leading Team USA in the same stat during the summer of 2010.

"It's a great honor for him, he definitely deserves that...and better," said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. "I'm very proud of him. He's worked extremely hard to go from undrafted to a third-rounder now, and it says a lot about him and the work ethic that he put in while he was at Bethune-Cookman. I look for him to make it to the big leagues real soon and be a good player at that level."

With his pick in the 2011 draft, O'Brien becomes the highest selected Wildcat in Melendez' 12-year tenure at the helm. The previous highest draftee was Mark Woodyard, B-CU pitcher drafted in the fourth round of the 2000 Draft.

"It's a great honor," O'Brien said of the third-round selection. "The coaching staff at Bethune-Cookman has helped me incredibly throughout my career. Not only is it an honor for my family and I, but also for Bethune-Cookman University as well.

In total, O'Brien played in 168 games in the Maroon and Gold, hitting a total of 38 home runs and 38 doubles, while racking up 154 RBI and a .336 batting average. In his time behind the plate, he collected 1038 putouts and 148 assists, for a .985 fielding percentage.

For the complete story, visit www.b-cathletics.com

A'S SELECT MACKLIN

GREENSBORO,NC- North Carolina A&T slugger Xavier Macklin is a member of the Oakland Athletics organization. On the second day of the First-Year MLB Player Draft, Macklin was selected in the 12th round as the 376th pick. Macklin is the first Aggie taken in the draft since the St. Louis Cardinals selected C.J. Beatty in the 26th round in 2009.

Macklin, a junior out of Rocky Mount, N.C., posted impressive numbers throughout his Aggies career. He hit .357 with 49 home runs and 183 RBIs and set school marks in home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage. Macklin's also tallied a .705 career slugging percentage. He ends his collegiate career with three first-team All-MEAC honors.

Macklin said he was informed about being drafted at approximately 5 p.m. Apprehension and nervousness drove him away from following the draft hours before the Athletics selected him. Macklin received a phone call from a friend notifying him of the good news. A local A's scout who lives in Greensboro made the official call for the organization.

"I can't describe this feeling right now," said Macklin. "It's crazy. It's surreal. It's like I'm not even here right now."

The 2011 season solidified Macklin's status as a MLB prospect. He hit .355 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs. Nationally, he ranks second in home runs and home runs per game. He owns the fourth-best slugging percentage in the nation and his RBIs per game ranks him 11th.

"He really deserves this," said N.C. A&T head coach Keith Shumate. "People recognize how much talent this young man has, but I don't think people know how hard he worked to get to this point. He had a legendary career at A&T."

Macklin becomes the seventh player under Shumate to be taken in the MLB Draft. He is the fourth Aggie in the last five years to be selected, and earned the second highest draft position of any Aggie selected during the Shumate era. Duron LaGrande was drafted in the 10th round by the Montreal Expos in 2004. 

For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com