Charleston, S.C.  The Citadel first baseman Zach Brown was a 27th round selection by the San Diego Padres on the second day of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.  Brown was the 837^th overall pick and the second player from The Citadel to be chosen by the Padres in the last three years as former Citadel pitcher Jonathan Ellis is currently with the Double-A affiliate San Antonio Missions.

“I'm just happy to have the opportunity to play at the next level and I am happy to be with the Padres,” said Brown.  “The Citadel has prepared me for this with all the hard work that is expected of you.  I am very grateful for all the help I have gotten from the coaches along the way.”

The 6-0, 200-pound senior from Greenville, S.C. enjoyed the best year of his career as he helped the Bulldogs make a run to the Southern Conference Tournament Championship game for the second consecutive season.  Brown was a first team All-SoCon selection and led the club with 69 runs scored, 21 doubles and 38 walks.  He was second on the team in batting average (.353), home runs (13), total bases (148) and slugging percentage (.622).  Brown also placed in five SoCon top-10 lists including walks, runs scored, doubles, total bases and slugging percentage while being named to the All-SoCon Tournament Team.

Brown set the single-season putout record with 539 at first base during 2007.  The senior also left his mark on many other Citadel charts, including four single-season lists.  Brown finished seventh in total bases, fifth in runs scored, tied for fifth in two-baggers and 10^th in single-season round-trippers.

“We are very excited that Zach gets the opportunity to play at the next level,” commented head baseball coach Fred Jordan.  “It is much deserved and he is with an organization that has followed him closely over the last couple of years.”

Brown is the 18^th player to be drafted under Jordan and the 28^th all-time from The Citadel.  The last Bulldog player to be drafted was Matt Matulia in 2006 as he was chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 24^th round.  The last first baseman to be drafted from a Citadel team was Chip Cannon who was an eighth round selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004.