Dixie State catcher Matthew Spring, BYU pitcher Nick Lemon, Utah center fielder Matt Ciaramella and Hurricane shortstop James Scholzen were chosen on the first day of the Major League Baseball 2004 First-Year Player Draft on Monday.
Spring, a freshman from Peoria, Ariz., was selected in the fourth round, 105th overall, by Tampa Bay. Dixie won the national junior college championship over the weekend. This season, Spring hit .360 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Lemon, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed pitcher, was the 239th pick overall in the eighth round by the Chicago White Sox. Lemon, from Elk Grove, Calif., hit speeds of 98 mph at times during the season and was often in the 91-93 mph range. He posted a 2-4 record in 18 appearances with two saves.
"It is great for him to have this opportunity if that is what he chooses to do," said BYU coach Vance Law.
Ciaramella, a junior from Skyline High, was taken by Boston in the 13th round, the 395th pick overall. Ciaramella led the Utes this season in games played, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases and slugging percentage, and was second in batting average.
Scholzen was taken in the 18th round by Tampa Bay, No. 525 overall. Scholzen was named second-team All-State by the Deseret Morning News.
Also drafted was Garth Iorg, brother of former Cougar Isaac Iorg and son of former major leaguer Garth Iorg. He was taken in the 16th round by Tampa Bay.