June 9, 2010
K. Muller Blog
24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 Season)
Iowa and the Big Ten NetworkBig Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
IOWA CITY — University of Iowa relief pitcher Patrick Schatz was picked in the Major League Baseball’s 2010 First-Year Player Draft Wednesday afternoon the by the Chicago White Sox in the 49th round (1478th pick). Incoming recruit Taylor Zeutenhorst was selected in the 41st round by the Phillies (1251st pick).
Schatz, from McHenry, IL, was a go-to righty out of the bullpen for Iowa the past three years. He finished the season with the second-best ERA of any reliever (6.68) and a perfect 1-0 record. Left-handed opponents hit .214 off of the hurler, who appeared in 53 games in his career at Iowa.
“We are very happy for Patrick,” Head Coach Jack Dahm said. “He came to the University of Iowa as a walk on coming off of Tommy John surgery and he has worked very hard for us. Patrick was an important part of our pitching staff this season and he had a great career at Iowa. We are proud of him finishing up school and graduating this past May as well.”
Zeutenhorst, a native of Sheldon, IA, is an athletic utility player. The righty has the ability to play on the left side of the field, as well as a power arm on the mound. In 2009, he batted .560 with a 1.095 slugging percentage for Sheldon HS. He is a two-time all-conference, all-district and Norwest Iowa shortstop.
“We are very excited for Taylor,” Dahm said. “He is an outstanding student athlete with very good size and athleticism. Taylor has a very bright future in baseball and we will just have to wait and see this summer if it will be with the Phillies or us. We truly hope to get him here at Iowa, but if not, we know he will go on to do great things.”
The two Hawkeyes chosen today put Iowa’s total at five this year. Kurtis Muller, Zach Robertson and Patrick Lala were all selected Tuesday afternoon in the draft. Under Dahm, 22 Hawkeyes have been drafted. Sixteen players have been drafted in the past four years.
