Dominican's Eifel selected by San Francisco in MLB Draft
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- With the fifth selection in the 21st Round of the 2008 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft, the San Francisco Giants selected Dominican University's Mike Eifel (Midlothian, IL). The 6'4" right-hand pitcher, became the first-ever student-athlete at Dominican University to be selected in the MLB draft and just the second player to be taken from the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) of which the Stars are a member.

"I'm in a bit of shock," said Eifel who was following the draft at home with his family. "I didn't know that it was going to be to the Giants."

Eifel, the Stars' career leader in earned run average (3.32) and opponent's batting average (.216), traveled to Scottsdale, Ariz. on Sunday where he will workout for the Giants before traveling to Keizer, Ore. where he will begin the season with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the Giants' short-season Class A affiliate.

"I am extremely proud of Mike," said Terry Casey, the Stars' head baseball coach. "He is an extremely talented individual and has worked hard to get where he is today."

Eifel began his career with the Stars in 2005, spending most of his freshman season as a catcher and designated hitter. In fact, the program's all-time win leader, Eifel only made one appearance on the mound as a freshman, lasting just three innings in the Stars' second game of the season.

In 2006, Eifel became a dominant force on the hill for the Stars, posting a Dominican University single-season record 1.90 ERA and holding opponents to a miniscule .168 batting average. During that season, Eifel led the Stars to the university's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championships, ranking 36th in the nation in earned run average and posting a 5-1 record.

"Mike really came into his own as a sophomore," said Casey. "He always had tremendous ability, but he learned how to approach the game as a pitcher and let his stuff work for him."

Over the last three seasons of his collegiate career, Eifel posted a 2.75 ERA over 157 innings in 26 appearances. During that span, the Stars' power pitcher struck out 158 batters while walking just 78. Currently Eifel ranks in the top three at Dominican University in eight career statistical categories including most strikeouts per nine innings, most wins, most shutouts, most strikeouts, most strikeouts looking and most pick offs.

In total, Eifel was one of 50 players drafted by San Francisco. Over the two-day draft, the Giants selected 23 pitchers and 27 position players, 30 of the Giants selections came from four-year colleges, nine from junior colleges and nine from high school.

"This is great for our program," said Casey. "Not only did we get some national attention because of Mike's accomplishments, but it also shows that even at a small school in River Forest if you play the game the right way and work hard, you can get noticed. It gives players on our current roster as well as incoming recruits something to shoot for."

Courtesy of Dominican University, Sports Information Department, June 10, 2008.