June 7, 2012. Appalachian State University matched a school record with four players selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft when senior pitchers Seth Grant (Etowah, N.C./West Henderson) and Ryan Arrowood (Rutherfordton, N.C./R-S Central) were drafted on Wednesday afternoon. The Miami Marlins selected Grant in the 26th round (No. 797 overall) and the Colorado Rockies picked Arrowood in the 28th round (No. 858 overall) of this year’s 40-round MLB Draft.
Combined with the Atlanta Braves’ selections of juniors Nathan Hyatt (Brevard, N.C./Brevard) and Tyler Tewell (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) in Tuesday’s 13th and 14th rounds, respectively, Appalachian matched its all-time record of four MLB draftees. Four Mountaineers were also selected in the 2009 MLB Draft (Zach Quate, Rand Smith, Isaac Harrow and Josh Dowdy).
Grant went 7-3 with a team-best 3.49 ERA (good for 10th in the Southern Conference) as a senior in 2012. The durable right-hander set Appalachian’s single-season record with 100.2 innings pitched this year and the 6-4, 215-pounder ranks among the program’s all-time leaders with 40 career starts (fifth), 245 innings pitched (sixth) and 180 strikeouts (tied for seventh).
Arrowood wrapped up his collegiate career as perhaps the most decorated pitcher in Appalachian history. The 2012 Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year went 11-0 with a 3.81 ERA as a senior and is one of only two pitchers nationally with at least nine wins and no losses this season (joining NC State’s Carlos Rodon, who is currently 9-0). The 6-3, 195-pound right-hander went 28-8 during his collegiate career, setting school records for career victories and strikeouts (252). He also set a new single-season program record with 93 strikeouts in 2012.
As seniors, Grant and Arrowood are expected to sign contracts with their organizations soon and report to the clubs’ rookie-level teams — Grant to the GCL Marlins of the Gulf Coast League in Jupiter, Fla. and Arrowood to the Grand Junction (Colo.) Rockies of the Pioneer League.
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