Sanzillo Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals :: 2007 JHU Gradute is Sixth Player in Program History to be Drafted

Sanzillo Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals

2007 JHU Gradute is Sixth Player in Program History to be Drafted

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Catcher Rob Sanzillo became the sixth Johns Hopkins baseball player to be drafted when the Cardinals grabbed him the 46th round.

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June 13, 2007

BALTIMORE, MD - Rob Sanzillo (Katonah, NY/Somers), a 2007 graduate of Johns Hopkins University and a standout on the Blue Jay baseball team, was recently selected by the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. One of three catchers drafted by the Cardinals, Sanzillo was taken in the 46th round and signed a contract on June 9 at his home in Katonah, New York. He reported to the Cardinals' training facility in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 10 and will be assigned to a one of the team's minor league affiliates in the near future.

The first Johns Hopkins baseball player drafted since Matt Righter was taken in the 21st round of the 1994 draft, Sanzillo guided the Blue Jays to a 38-11 record and the Centennial Conference Championship in 2007. The Blue Jays advanced to the NCAA Mid.-Atlantic Regional final before being eliminated by eventual Division III College World Series Champion Kean (NJ). During his career Sanzillo helped the Blue Jays to a 138-33-2 (.803) record, two Centennial Conference Championships and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Sanzillo was a Third Team ABCA All-America selection as a senior, when he was also named the Centennial Conference Player of the Year. He started 48 games and finished second on the team with a career-best .384 batting average in 2007. He led the team with eight home runs and tied for the team-lead with 51 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. In the process, he became just the 13th player in school history to amass career totals of 100 hits, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored.

Sanzillo is the sixth Johns Hopkins player to be drafted by a major league team and the fifth under current head coach Bob Babb. In addition, Johns Hopkins has produced 16 players who have earned All-America honors during their career (including Sanzillo and rising senior Jonas Fester in 2007) and Sanzillo is the first catcher so honored.

Sanzillo is one of three former Johns Hopkins players currently playing professionally as he joins Righter and 2005 graduate Paul Winterling in the minor leagues. Righter is currently pitching for the Erie Seawolves, the Double A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, while Winterling is a member of the Frederick Keys, a Single A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.

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