Pitcher Ryan Harvey was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round of the 2012 the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.
Harvey, the 576th overall selection, was named to the All-Big East Second Team for the 2012 season, his first season as a starter.
He became the second Pirate in two years to be drafted, following Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Championship in 2011, Joe DiRocco. DiRocco was drafted by the Rangers' divisional rival, the Seattle Mariners, in the 21st round, the 633 overall.
In 2012 Harvey went 6-4 with a team-high 3.04 ERA. He struck out 90 batters in 77 innings while walking 43, earning three Big East Weekly Honor Roll selections and NJCBA Pitcher of the Week on May 7.
In the Big East, Harvey ranked in the Top-10 in ERA, opponent batting average and strikeouts, fewest hits allowed and fewest runs allowed. Harvey also recorded two saves on the season.
In 2011 as the team's closer Harvey played a pivotal role in helping the Pirates capture the 2011 Big East Championship. He racked up seven saves, which is good for the third most in a single season in school history. Harvey posted a 2.62 ERA while striking out 73 batters in 44.2 innings of work.
His final save of the season came in the championship game against St. John's.
T.J. Brennan can be reached at thomas.brennan@student.shu.edu
