Five Huskies Taken In Baseball Draft
June 8, 2004
SEATTLE - Five University of Washington baseball players were selected in the Major League Baseball's 2004 amateur draft, which concluded today.
Catcher Aaron Hathaway, a junior from Vancouver's Columbia River High, led the list. He was selected by the New York Mets in the fourth round, the 104th selection overall. Hathaway, noted primarilyfor his defensive skills, batted .317 with nine home runs and, on Sunday, was named to an NCAA Regional all-tournament team for the third straight season.
Trent Baysinger, a senior left-handed reliever from Moscow, Idaho, transferred to the UW from Walla Walla (Wash.) CC prior to the 2003 season. He was taken by Baltimore in the 18th round, the 529th overall pick. In 2004, he led the UW with 29 appearances and was third with 74.1 innings despite appearing only in relief. He had a 3-4 record and 4.12 earned run average and twice earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention.
Later in the 18th round, Philadelphia made senior second baseman Greg Isaacson the 542nd overall pick. Isaacson, a former walkon from Aberdeen, Wash., started each of the last three seasons at second base. In 2004, he batted. 304 with six homers and currently shares the Pac-10 lead with 23 stolen bases.
On day two of the draft (beginning with round 19), junior reliever Will Fenton, from Kingston, Wash. (North Kitsap HS), was selected in the 21st round (636 overall) by the Chicago Cubs. Fenton earned All-Pac-10 and All-America honors in 2003, when he didn't allow a run in 32.1 innings. In 2004, he led the Pac-10 with 10 saves and despite a 4.31 ERA, he allowed only one run in conference play.
Ben Johnson, a senior catcher/oufielder from Bellevue High, was drafted by Anaheim in the 23rd round, the 683rd overall pick. Johnson, the UW's No. 2 catcher for four seasons, became a regular starter in right field through much of his senior year. A switch-hitter, he belted a career-high seven homers in 2004.
Of the five UW players drafted, only one (Johnson) had been previously drafted out of high school or junior college.
