NEW YORK, N.Y. – Seniors Ryan Bear and David Torres were selected Wednesday in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. Bear was a 30th-round selection by the Florida Marlins while the New York Mets drafted Torres in the 47th round. UCF had a total of three players selected in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft after the Anaheim Angels tabbed Von David Stertzbach in the ninth round yesterday.
Bear is the first UCF player to be drafted by the Marlins. The 2003 Verizon Academic All-America first team selection and first team A-Sun pick had a spectacular season for the Golden Knights. Bear hit .390 with 20 doubles, five triples, five home runs and 36 RBI in 56 games. The senior was the only UCF player to start every game this season and also led UCF with a 19-game hitting streak.
Torres is the second Golden Knight to be picked by the Mets. The only other player from UCF that Mets drafted was Todd Bellhorn in the ninth round of the 1998 draft.
Torres played just one season for UCF and finished the 2003 campaign 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. In four appearances and 7.1 innings, Torres fanned seven batters.
His story is an amazing one as he tried out for the team at UCF three times before finally making the club as a senior.
UCF has had 17 players since the 2000 season selected in the First-Year Player Draft.
2003 First-Year Player Draft
Von David Stertzbach, Anaheim Angels (9th round, 270)
Ryan Bear, Florida Marlins (30th round, 893)
David Torres, New York Mets (47th round, 1,386)