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June 7, 2006
Brandon Caipen Drafted In 28th Round By Houston Astros
Youngstown -- Youngstown State
senior Brandon Caipen was selected
by the Houston Astros in the 28th
round of the Major League Baseball
First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday
afternoon.
Caipen, a 6-foot utility player from Tallmadge, Ohio, was the
849th overall selection and the
ninth YSU player to be drafted or
sign a professional contract in the
last eight years. He is also only
the third position player to be
drafted out of Youngstown State and
the first since 1999.
"As a kid you dream about being drafted but never really
think it will actually happen,"
Caipen said. "Even before and during
my time at Youngstown State I had my
doubts, but it's just an
unbelievable feeling right now. I'm
just excited to get the chance to
keep my career going."
"We're always proud when a player from Youngstown State gets
the chance to play professional
baseball, and we're very excited
Brandon has the opportunity to
further his career," head coach Mike
Florak said. "Brandon and his family
have been great to us, and he's very
deserving of this great honor."
Caipen was a four-year starter at YSU, playing right field as
a freshman and sophomore before
splitting time at catcher and
outfield
in his final two season. He said he will need
to use his versatility in the field
after being drafted to play third
base, a position he hasn't played
since high school.
Caipen is scheduled to meet later this evening to discuss his
assignment and contract details.
A First-Team All-Horizon League selection as a utility player
as a junior and senior, Caipen
finished out his collegiate career
by posting career-best numbers in
hits, batting average, home runs,
RBIs and runs scored. His 76 hits in
2006 rank as the fourth-highest
season total in school history, and
he led the Penguins in runs scored
with 47. He also hit five home runs,
drove in 45 runs and doubled 18
times.
Caipen hit .301 with 28 runs scored and 20 RBIs as a junior,
and he ranked second in hitting at
.299 as a sophomore on YSU's NCAA
Tournament team. He was also named
to the Horizon League's All-Newcomer
Team as a freshman, hitting .321
with 35 runs scored, 33 RBIs and
three home runs.
Caipen finished his career as the school record holder in at
bats with 785, and he ranks third in
career hits with 247, third in runs
scored with 139 and fourth in RBIs
with 122.
An exemplary student-athlete, he was named Second-Team
CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic
All-America as a senior and has
twice been named Academic
All-Horizon League. He holds a 3.72
grade-point average in integrated
social studies education.
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