Twins Select Matt Fox In Supplemental First Round

NEW YORK, N.Y. – UCF All-American pitcher Matt Fox was selected with the 35th overall pick to the Minnesota Twins Monday in the 2004 First-Year Major League Baseball Draft. Fox was taken in the supplemental first round by the Twins, becoming just the fourth first round draft pick in school history.

Junior center fielder Clay Timpner was the 130th overall selection in the fourth round by the San Francisco Giants. Sophomore All-American pitcher Kyle Bono was later selected with the 245th pick in the eighth round by the Boston Red Sox.

Fox joins Justin Pope (St. Louis, 2001), Joe Wagner (Milwaukee, 1993) and Chad Mottola (Cincinnati, 1992) on UCF’s all-time first round draft pick list. Fox is the second first round selection under the current tenure of UCF pitching coach Craig Cozart.

“It is a great feeling to know all of the hard work paid off,” stated Fox. “I am excited and happy to be drafted by the Minnesota Twins.”

Fox had one of the finest seasons in UCF history in 2004. The right-hander was 14-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 17 starts. In 11.2 innings of work, Fox recorded 125 strikeouts and opponents batted just .191 vs. the right-hander.

Fox finished tied for second in UCF single-season history in wins, tied for fourth in strikeouts, and 10th in innings pitched.

Fox was named to Collegiate Baseball News All-America First Team and was a second team All-America selection according to USA Today/Sports Weekly. Fox was a sixth round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.

Timpner put together a phenomenal junior season in which he led UCF in runs (69), hits (96), doubles (20), triples (6), home runs (6), total bases (146) and stolen bases (43). The 2004 A-Sun First Team All-Conference selection ranks among UCF all-time leaders in hits, runs,
stolen bases and total bases. Timpner was a 41st round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.

Bono was a second team All-America selection by USA Today/Sports Weekly and a third team All-America honoree according to Collegiate Baseball News. The draft-eligible sophomore was 8-2 with a 1.94 ERA in 97.1 innings of work. The Lake Mary native amassed a UCF single-season and career record five complete-game shutouts in 2004 and totaled 107 strikeouts, to rank in the top 10 in UCF single-season strikeouts.