Cubs draft Cashner

The Cubs took right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner with the 19th selection today.

CUBS SELECT RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER ANDREW CASHNER

WITH 19TH PICK OF FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT

Here is the official release:

ANDREW CASHNER

PRIMARY POSITION: Pitcher

BATS: Right Throws: Right

Height: 6-6 Weight: 180

Age: 21

Birthdate: 9/11/86

Residence: Montgomery, Texas

College: Texas Christian University

COLLEGE Coach: Jim Schlossnagle

Cubs Area Scout: Trey Forkerway

ORLANDO The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner with the 19th selection of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Cashner, 21, recently completed his junior season at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.

In his first season with TCU, Cashner led the club with nine victories, nine saves and 30 relief appearances while posting a 2.32 ERA (14 ER/54.1 IP) in 2008. He limited the opposition to a .122 batting average (21-for-172) while walking just 27 and striking out a team-high 80, good for 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Besides being named first-team all-conference earlier in the season, Cashner also earned a spot on the Mountain West Conference all-tournament squad, and was named third-team All-American by Louisville Slugger last week. Baseball America listed Cashner as the 24th-best prospect heading into this years draft. The publication also selected his fastball as one of the top-three among college players.

Chicago drafted Cashner in the 29th round of the 2007 Draft after a successful season at Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, Texas. In 2007, he appeared in the Junior College All-Star Game after posting a 9-3 record. As a freshman, he recorded a 2.66 ERA and struck out 24 in 23.2 innings of work after he was selected by Colorado in the 18th round of the 2006 Draft, but did not sign.

Prior to todays Draft, the Cubs selected Walt Owens in the Ceremonial Negro Leagues Draft held by Major League Baseball. Owens, 74, was a pitcher and outfielder for the Detroit Stars while he was attending Western Michigan University from 1953-55. Owens, who resides in Chicago, later spent seven years as Northern Illinois Universitys baseball coach, winning 133 games, third-most in school history.

Andrew Cashners 2008 pitching statistics at Texas Christian University:

YEAR W-L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER BB SO HR

2008 9-4 2.32 30 0 9 54.1 21 16 14 27 80 4

CUBS LAST 10 LAST 10 PLAYERS CHOSEN

NO. 1 PICKS WITH 19th OVERALL PICK

2008 RHP Andrew Cashner (19) 2008 RHP Andrew Cashner (CHI)

2007 INF Josh Vitters (3) 2007 LHP Joe Savery (PHI)

2006 OF Tyler Colvin (13) 2006 RHP Brett Sinkbeil (FLA)

2005 LHP Mark Pawelek (20) 2005 OF John Mayberry (TEX)

2004 RHP Grant Johnson (66) 2004 RHP Christopher Lambert (STL)

2003 INF Ryan Harvey (6) 2003 INF Conor Jackson (ARI)

2002 RHP Bobby Brownlie (21) 2002 INF James Loney (LAD)