ORANGE, Calif. – Chapman University RHP Brian Rauh has been selected by the Washington Nationals in the 11th round of Major League Baseball’s 2012 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon, the second day of the draft. The three-time All-America junior was the 354th pick overall and becomes the 11th Panther since 1999 to be drafted by an MLB organization.

Rauh owned the third-highest strikeout total in the nation this season with 122 Ks in 92 innings and opponents hit a career-low .159 against the ace right-hander. He also ranked third in Division III in hits allowed per nine innings (5.09).

A talent on and off the field, last week Rauh also became just the third athlete in Chapman history to earn All-America and Academic All-America honors in the same year with a 3.53 GPA in business.

He was the second Division III player selected 2012 draft behind Birmingham-Southern (Ala.) C Bruce Maxwell who was taken by the Oakland Athletics in the second round. Rauh is the first Chapman player drafted since John Semel was selected by the New York Mets in 2009. The Nationals previously selected another Chapman pitcher Devin Drag in 2007.

Since 1966, a total of 67 Chapman baseball players have been selected in the draft. Six players – Randy Jones, Gary Lucas, Tim Flannery, Marty Castillo, Jay Pettibone and Don August – have reached the Major Leagues.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Chapman University MLB Draft Picks (Division III)

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