June 7, 2004

Charleston, SC - Junior Jonathan Ellis was selected in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball Amateur draft by the San Diego Padres early Tuesday afternoon, while teammate and senior Chip Cannon was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round.

"We are extremely excited for Chip and Jon," stated Citadel head coach Fred Jordan. "They both deserved to go early in the draft."

Ellis, a right handed pitcher from Charleston who was the first pick of the sixth round and 162nd overall by the Padres, finished the 2004 season with a 12-3 record and a 2.18 earned run average. Ellis set new single season records in innings pitched and complete games. He pitched a record high 136.1 innings and tied Jeff Barkley with nine complete games. "It is an honor to be drafted," Ellis said. "I would like to thank my coaches and teammates at The Citadel for helping me get to this point in my baseball career."

Ellis racked up the postseason hardware as he was named to the all-Southern Conference squad, the SoCon's all-tournament team and was on the Columbia All-Regional list. With two complete games during the tournament, Ellis was also named the MVP of the SoCon Tournament.

"We will be very supportive of Jon's decision on whether he returns to our program or decides to sign and play professionally," added Jordan. "He is a true testament to the development of players that come through our program. Jon came into our program as an unknown freshman and has made himself into a top-round draft pick."

Cannon, a first baseman from North Charleston who was the 237th overall pick by the Blue Jays, led the Bulldogs offensively with 17 homers, 20 doubles and 66 runs batted in. His 17 homers tied a single-season home run record which was held by Philip Hartig, who blasted 17 in 1998 and again in 1999. Cannon's 40 career homers are second only to Hartig's 64 on the Bulldogs' all-time home run list. Cannon also set new season marks in two different base on ball categories. He was walked 71 times, surpassing Dan McDonnell who walked 63 times in 1992, for the single-season record, while also drawing 19 intentional base on balls setting the record for most IBB in one season.

"This is a very exciting time for my family and I," stated Cannon. "This is just a great way to end my college career and it is just a great way to culminate our tournament championship and Regional appearance."

Cannon was also honored during the postseason as he was named to the Louisville Slugger/TPX All-American squad. He also took home all-conference and all-tournament laurels from the SoCon.

"Chip has a very pro-like work ethic that will allow him to hit at any professional level," Jordan stated. "He was a pleasure to watch develop as a ball player and young man over the last four years and we wish him the best in baseball and in life."

Cannon and Ellis are the first Bulldog players to be drafted since TA Fulmer was picked in the 13th round by the Seattle Mariners in the 2002 draft. Jordan has now had 19 players drafted, including 12 pitchers, in his 13 seasons as the skipper of The Citadel baseball team. 14 of the 19 players drafted under Jordan have been chosen since 1998.