June 7, 2005
NEW YORK, N.Y. - UCF senior right-handed pitcher Darren Newlin was selected in the 17th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday. Newlin is the fifth UCF player to be drafted, joining junior right-handed pitcher Mike Billek (Chicago Cubs, third round), junior catcher Drew Butera (New York Mets, fifth round), junior outfielder John-Michael Howell (Washington Nationals, ninth round) and senior outfielder Dee Brown (Washington Nationals, 10th round).
The five draft picks are the most for UCF since 2002 when six players were drafted and two additional Golden Knights inked free agent contracts.
Newlin put together a solid, two-year career in Orlando after transferring from Tallahassee Community College. The Tallahassee product ended his career with a 14-4 record and 3.90 ERA in 31 games.
In 140.2 innings of work, Newlin racked up 107 strikeouts and opponents hit .262 vs. the right-hander.
In his final UCF appearance, Newlin saved one of his best performances for last with 7.1 innings of one-run baseball vs. Troy in a winning effort in the A-Sun Tournament. Newlin gave up just one unearned run to the top-seeded Trojans in a 5-1 UCF victory.