June 8, 2005
IOWA CITY – A pair of University of Iowa baseball players were selected in Major League Baseball’s 2005 First-Year Player Draft Wednesday. Shortstop Andy Lytle was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 25th round, while catcher Kris Welker was selected in the 41st round.
Lytle was the 754th player taken overall, while Welker was the 1,233th selection.
Lytle, a Denver, CO, native, was a third-team all-Big Ten selection this season, starting all 57 games for the Hawkeyes. He hit .338 on the season with six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 36 RBIs. Lytle also led the team with 20 stolen bases.
Welker, from Missoula, MT, was also a third-team all-Big Ten pick. He hit .356 with four home runs and a team-best 16 doubles and 46 RBIs.
“I’m very excited for Andy and Kris,” Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm said. “Andy has really improved in the last two years, eventually making himself into one of the better shortstops in the Midwest. Kris is just a hardnosed ballplayer. He’s a good hitter who’s swing should transfer over the the professional game. I’m really happy to see him continue the Hawkeye pipeline into the professional ranks.”