Two Wildcats Selected in MLB Draft

The Kansas State baseball team had two players selected in the MLB first-year player draft on Tuesday afternoon.

Both junior shortstop Carter Jurica and senior third baseman Adam Muenster had their names called after helping the Wildcat program another record-setting season in 2010.

"We are tremendously excited and happy for those guys," KSU coach Brad Hill said Tuesday. "You can't say enough for what Carter has meant for our program, and I couldn't be happier for Adam Muenster."

Jurica was selected in the third round as the 105th overall pick to the San Francisco Giants. Meanwhile, Muenster was selected in the 29th round as the 877th pick overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds.

"It was definitely exciting," said Jurica, who watched the draft in his apartment with teammate James Allen. "I was a bit
surprised because I wasn't expecting to go early in the third. I was kind of more looking at the fifth (through) seventh. It kind of caught me off guard."

With the third-round selection on Tuesday, Jurica became the earliest Wildcat position player to be selected in the MLB draft since Jack Woolsey was selected in the second round in 1969, also by the Giants.

The junior from Katy, Texas is coming off his best season since becoming a Wildcat. Jurica hit .363 with 13 home runs this season, which tied him for fourth-most in KSU history. Two of his 13 home runs came during the Wildcats' regional appearance in Fayetteville, Ark.

"I started off the first half a little slow, but I picked it up towards the second half," Jurica said.
Jurica said he has been in contact with the San Francisco organization for much of the 2010 season, and plans to sign with the club soon after discussing specifics over the phone with the team Tuesday night. "It's a pretty tough opportunity to pass on," Jurica said. "As of right now, I plan on signing."

Meanwhile, Muenster had been in contact with the Reds' organization throughout the previous few months before his selection on Tuesday. The senior converted-third baseman said he plans on talking with members from the organization on Wednesday, and reporting to team camp as early as Sunday.

"It's kind of one of those things at the end of the year, when it is all said and done, you sit and think about where you want to go from there," Muenster said. "I definitely wanted to get drafted and I was prepared for both and if I didn't, I was going to be alright with it. But I'm definitely happy that it did happen."

Muenster finished his senior season hitting .381 as the leadoff hitter. The average was second to teammate and Co-Big 12 Player of the Year Nick Martini who hit .416.

In his career at K-State, Muenster played both left field and third base, while also serving as the primary designated hitter in 2009.

The Omaha, Neb., native will leave a lasting mark on the Wildcat program as he ranks first in career steals with 78 and ranks in the top 10 in career singles (second with 183), doubles (eighth with 44), runs scored (eighth with 161) and total bases (10th with 313).

Hill has now had 20 players drafted since joining the KSU program seven years ago.

"It means a lot to our program," Hill said. "When kids see two kids who weren't drafted out of high school, develop into high draft picks, that really (shows) how our program has evolved."