University of Minnesota Athletics
Knudson Drafted in Ninth Round By Twins
6/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Senior Kyle Knudson (Maple Grove, Minn.) was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the 285th overall pick in the ninth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday, June 8.
Knudson becomes the first Golden Gopher catcher to be drafted since Jake Elder was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round in 2005. Knudson also becomes the 23rd Gopher to be selected by the Minnesota Twins in the Major League Baseball Draft, and sixth in the last three years.
This season, Knudson batted .342 with six home runs, 48 RBI, had 17 doubles and scored 37 runs. Knudson was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team and was the Big Ten Tournament Regional MVP. In postseason play, Knudson batted .400 (14-for-35) in seven games, and knocked in nine runs. He finished the season with 10 game-winning RBI for the Golden Gophers, and threw out 16 of the 40 runners that attempted to steal from him.
Knudson became the third Golden Gopher catcher to receive All-Big Ten honors since 2005. He also efficiently managed a pitching staff that led the Big Ten in conference ERA for the first time since 2000, and also led Big Ten in overall ERA. He finished tied for ninth in conference play in runs (22), tied for seventh in doubles (8), seventh in total bases (59), eighth in slugging percentage (.649), ninth in RBI (23) and tied for seventh in home runs (5).
Knudson becomes the first Golden Gopher catcher to be drafted since Jake Elder was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 18th round in 2005. Knudson also becomes the 23rd Gopher to be selected by the Minnesota Twins in the Major League Baseball Draft, and sixth in the last three years.
This season, Knudson batted .342 with six home runs, 48 RBI, had 17 doubles and scored 37 runs. Knudson was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team and was the Big Ten Tournament Regional MVP. In postseason play, Knudson batted .400 (14-for-35) in seven games, and knocked in nine runs. He finished the season with 10 game-winning RBI for the Golden Gophers, and threw out 16 of the 40 runners that attempted to steal from him.
Knudson became the third Golden Gopher catcher to receive All-Big Ten honors since 2005. He also efficiently managed a pitching staff that led the Big Ten in conference ERA for the first time since 2000, and also led Big Ten in overall ERA. He finished tied for ninth in conference play in runs (22), tied for seventh in doubles (8), seventh in total bases (59), eighth in slugging percentage (.649), ninth in RBI (23) and tied for seventh in home runs (5).
Players Mentioned
C
/ BaseballFirst Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15