June 8, 2011
="" alt="Knight Head" border="0" class="imported"> Read John Denton's Knights Insider | ="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported">Follow us on Twitter | ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported">Get social with the Knights on Facebook
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - A total of seven UCF players were selected in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft this week after three more Knights were taken Wednesday. Sophomore center fielder Ronnie Richardson (Eagle Lake, Fla.) was taken in the 31st round by the Chicago Cubs, senior pitcher Chase Bradford (Henderson, Nev.) was picked up by the New York Mets in the 35th round and senior third baseman Derek Luciano (Bradenton, Fla.) was selected in the 44th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks during the final day of the event Wednesday.
The seven Knights drafted were the most since 2005 when that squad also produced seven draft picks.
On day two of the MLB Draft Tuesday, Beau Taylor (fifth round), Danny Winkler (20th round), Jonathan Griffin (21st round) and Chris Matulis (29th round) were all selected by Major League clubs.
The school record for most draft picks in a season was set in 1998 when 10 Knights heard their names called in the draft. This season marked the third time in school history that at least seven Knights were taken, and overall, Richardson, Bradford and Luciano became the 78th, 79th and 80th draft picks, respectively, in school history.
UCF's Selections in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft
1) Jr. C Beau Taylor - Fifth Round - No. 166 - Oakland Athletics
2) Jr. RHP Danny Winkler - 20th Round - No. 618 - Colorado Rockies
3) Sr. 1B Jonathan Griffin - 21st Round - No. 634 - Arizona Diamondbacks
4) Jr. LHP Chris Matulis - 29th Round - No. 890 - St. Louis Cardinals
5) So. CF Ronnie Richardson - 31st Round - No. 939 - Chicago Cubs
6) Sr. RHP Chase Bradford - 35th Round - No. 1,062 - New York Mets
7) Sr. 3B Derek Luciano - 44th Round - No. 1,324 - Arizona Diamondbacks
UCF's speedy center fielder and leadoff hitter, Richardson was a draft-eligible sophomore after playing two seasons in Black and Gold. He currently owns a .306 career average with the Knights, scoring 95 runs, driving in 70 and posting 21 doubles, six triples and six homers. Richardson also has 27 stolen bases and more walks (70) than strikeouts (67).
Richardson ended the 2011 campaign on an eight-game hitting streak, and had a .312 batting average overall with 15 stolen bases and a team-high 59 runs, 36 walks, 19 hit by pitches and a .440 on-base percentage. He ventured to UCF out of Lake Region High School where he was taken in the 11th round of the 2009 MLB Draft.
Selected in the MLB Draft for the first time in his playing career, Bradford had a solid senior season with the Knights in 2011. After he went 4-3 in 21 appearances from the pen as a junior in his first year at UCF in 2010, the product of the College of Southern Nevada finished 2011 with a 6-2 record, a 5.30 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 52.2 innings.
In eight starts and 16 total appearances, Bradford tossed a career-high 7.0 innings vs. Houston April 30 and again vs. Marshall May 21. In that game vs. the Thundering Herd, he struck out nine and allowed just one run for the victory. The right-hander also earned wins against Siena, Stetson, Florida, Memphis and UAB.
Luciano may have ended his UCF career in 2011, however a very familiar teammate will be joining him in the Diamondbacks' organization. Griffin (Lakewood Ranch High School) and Luciano (Manatee High School) both hail from Bradenton and attended the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota from 2008-09 before heading to UCF. The duo also suited up with the DeLand Suns in the Florida Collegiate Summer League in 2009
While with the Knights, Luciano battled an injury throughout his junior campaign but still managed to hit .342 in 21 games. One year later, he stepped up to serve as UCF's starting third baseman and went .265 at the plate with 17 doubles, six homers, 36 RBI and 35 runs. Luciano totaled nine home runs overall and a .287 in his UCF career.