Two Spartans Selected In 2006 MLB Draft
6/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 7, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Two Michigan State baseball players were among those chosen in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Senior right-handed pitcher Jeff Gerbe was taken on the first day of selection, as the sixth pick of the 16th round (No. 472 overall) by the Detroit Tigers. Junior outfielder Ryan Basham had his name announced on the second day of the draft, taken as the 14th pick of the 29th round (No. 870 overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Arriving to Michigan State as a walk-on in his first year, Gerbe (Shelby Township, Mich.) emerged as a starter in his senior season. Possessing a strong arm with a mid-90s fastball, Gerbe threw more innings than any other Spartan pitcher (78.2 IP) in 2006, tallying a team-leading five complete games (seven innings). Starting in each of his 13 appearances, Gerbe compiled a 4-7 record and a 5.38 ERA this season, striking out 32 while allowing just one home run.
A First-Team All-Big Ten honoree, Basham (Lowell, Ind.) led the Spartans in almost every offensive category in 2006 and finished the regular season ranked among the top five in the Big Ten in batting average (.363), slugging percentage (.562), total bases (113), sacrifice flies (5), RBI (53) and home runs (8). His 53 RBI this season placed him eighth all-time in MSU single-season history. Basham also ranks fifth all-time in career doubles with 39. Basham collected Third-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2005, and was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team his freshman year.
A total of 111 Spartans have been selected in the major league draft.
