Four Razorbacks picked on day two of MLB Draft

FAYETTEVILLE– The Arkansas Razorback baseball team had four players selected on the second day of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, held on Tuesday afternoon.

Junior catcher James McCann was the first current Razorback to be selected as he was drafted in the second round (76th overall) by the Detroit Tigers. Redshirt junior outfielder Collin Kuhn was picked in the 17th round (531st overall) by the Chicago White Sox, while redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Trent Daniel was a 23rd round (707th overall) selection of the Detroit Tigers. Senior infielder/outfielder Kyle Robinson was the fourth Arkansas player selected on Tuesday, going in the 28th round (861st overall) to the Chicago White Sox.

A native of Santa Barbara, Calif., McCann was the first collegiate catcher taken in the 2011 draft. A team captain in 2010 and 2011, McCann put together the best offensive numbers of his collegiate career this season. Playing in 61 games, including 59 starts, McCann finished second on the team with a .306 batting average to go along with six homers and 38 RBI. The 2011 Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year, McCann is considered one of the top defensive catchers in college baseball, committing just four errors during the season and posting a .992 fielding percentage. A semifinalist for the 2011 Johnny Bench Award, McCann threw out 34 percent of the runners who attempted to steal a base against him this season, throwing out 20 would-be base stealers.

Through three seasons as a Razorback, McCann has played in 169 games, including 152 starts, and has a .284 career batting average with 16 homers and 83 RBI. Defensively, McCann has committed just nine errors in his collegiate career for a .993 fielding percentage.

Hailing from Beaver Dam, Wis., Kuhn hit .282 with seven homers and 41 RBI in 56 games played, including 55 starts, in 2011. The redshirt junior outfielder ranked second on the Razorbacks in homers and third in RBI. A 15th round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2010, Kuhn led Arkansas with 44 runs scored and was second on the squad in stolen bases, swiping 22 bags in 24 attempts. Defensively, Kuhn was flawless in the outfield, not committing an error in 147 chances during the season. Kuhn led all Arkansas outfielders with six outfield assists in 2011.

Kuhn has played in 179 career games, with 166 starts, and has a .297 batting average with 26 homers and 112 RBI. On the base paths, Kuhn has stolen 50 bases as a Razorback and been caught stealing just six times. He also holds the Arkansas career record for hit by pitches after being hit 53 times in his first three seasons. Defensively, he has a .987 career fielding percentage, committing five errors in 390 chances.

Daniel, a left-handed reliever from Fort Smith, Ark., was one of the most reliable pitchers out of the Arkansas bullpen in 2011. The redshirt sophomore appeared in 26 games, all in relief, and had a 2-0 record with four saves and a 2.91 ERA. In 43.1 innings, Daniel allowed 17 runs, 14 earned, on just 28 hits, while striking out 48. The southpaw held opposing hitters to a .184 batting average. In SEC play, Daniel pitched in 14 games had a 2-0 record with one save and a 1.53 ERA. The opposition had just a .168 batting average against Daniel in league games.

A native of Boynton Beach, Fla., Robinson was the top power threat in the Arkansas batting order in 2011, hitting a team-high 10 home runs and finishing second on the team with 49 RBI, while compiling a .286 batting average in 60 games played, including 56 starts. A two-time SEC Player of the Week honoree this season, Robinson led the Razorbacks with a .507 slugging percentage and was 9-for-10 on stolen base attempts. The lone senior on the 2011 Arkansas roster, Robinson had 19 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games, which tied for second in both categories.

Robinson, who missed much of 2010 due to injuries, played in 66 games and had 60 starts during his two seasons at Arkansas. Robinson hit .291 with 10 homers and 54 RBI as a Razorback.

Along with the four current Razorbacks taken on day two, seven Arkansas signees have been selected during the first two days of the draft. On Monday, Brandon Nimmo, an outfielder from Cheyenne, Wyo., was taken with the 13th overall pick by the New York Mets, while Michael Fulmer, a right-handed pitcher from Edmond, Okla., was also drafted by the Mets in the compensation round with the 44th overall pick.

Five Arkansas signees were drafted on Tuesday. Dillon Howard, a right-handed pitcher from Searcy, Ark., was selected in the second round with the 67th overall pick by the Cleveland Indians. Greg Bird, a first baseman/catcher from Aurora, Colo., was drafted in the fifth round (179th overall) by the New York Yankees. In the 12th round (385th overall), Joe Serrano, an infielder from Tucson, Ariz., was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. Conor Costello, a right-handed pitcher from Edmond, Okla., was also picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the 16th round (505th overall). Brian Anderson, an infielder/right-handed pitcher from Edmond, Okla., and a high school teammate of Fulmer, was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round (628th overall).

The 2011 MLB Draft concludes on Wednesday, beginning at 11 a.m. (CT), with rounds 31-50.