Virginia's Danny Hultzen made history Monday night without even having to step on the field.
The left-handed pitcher/first baseman was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the second overall in Major League Baseball's first year draft, making him the highest player drafted in Virginia baseball history. Fitting for a guy who this season became the school's all-time leader in strikeouts (387) and wins (31), while also becoming the first Cavalier earn first-team All-ACC honors three times.
The Cavaliers' previous highest pick was Ryan Zimmerman who was drafted at the number four spot in 2005 by the Washington Nationals.
Hultzen posted an 11-3 record this season with a 1.57 ERA and an ACC-leading 148 strikeouts. He has also hit well in 2011, batting .336 with 34 runs batted in.
Most recently, Hultzen was named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award on Monday, one day after earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the NCAA Charlottesville Regional as the Cavaliers won their third straight regional crown.
The Cavaliers will continue their post season run this weekend, being selected Tuesday morning as one of the eight super regional host sites for the NCAA tournament. Virginia (52-9) will start a best of three series with UC Irvine (42-16) Saturday at 1 p.m.
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