June 6, 2008

DeKALB, Ill. - A pair of Northern Illinois players were selected Friday in the Major League Baseball Draft. The Baltimore Orioles chose shortstop Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) in round 16, making him the highest Huskie selection since 2003, and the Detroit Tigers picked pitcher Trevor Feeney (Channahon, Ill./Joliet Catholic) in round 31.

Stevens and Feeney make eight total draftees under Ed Mathey, Northern Illinois' all-time winningest coach. Their selections also marked the highest total of Huskies taken since four players were drafted in 2004, following Mathey's second season.

"I am very happy for both Bobby and Trevor and it bodes well for Northern Illinois to have two players chosen in the draft this season," said Mathey. "It is a great honor for Bobby to be picked in the 16th round. He is a gifted athlete with the skills that scouts look for - speed, defense and the ability to hit for power - and he has done very well against some highly drafted pitchers. It was nice to see Trevor come back after being drafted last year, be our main guy on the mound, and improve his position in this year's draft. I think he has the chance to have a pretty good pro career."

Stevens, the highest Huskie draftee since 2003, led Northern Illinois in six offensive categories and hit .308 with five home runs, 26 RBI and 52 runs scored during his junior season. His 20 stolen bases ranked third in the MAC while his 18 doubles and three triples were also among the league leaders. In April, Stevens was named to the College Baseball Foundation's National All-Star Lineup after hitting .643 with 10 runs scored and four steals in four games during the week of April 9-13.

One of four team captains, Stevens set a school record by being hit by pitch 27 times on the season, a total that ranked fourth nationally, and established a new career mark with 45. During the season, Stevens compiled a statistical anomaly by being hit by pitch in eight consecutive games. Stevens' name appeared on the top-10 season totals in five categories during the 2008 campaign and is listed on seven all-time lists, including second with 52 career stolen bases.

Stevens saw time in the Cape Cod League during the 2007 summer season after capping an all-star campaign the previous summer by earning Tournament MVP honors in the Central Illinois Collegiate League.

Off the field, Stevens earned both Victory Scholar (3.5-4.0 cumulative gpa) and Huskie Scholar (3.0-3.49 gpa) at NIU.

"Bobby has a high ceiling and a chance to do some things professionally," said Mathey. "At the same time, as a junior, he has some leverage in negotiations because if he comes back he can add to his number and be drafted even higher

"The Orioles called me in round 10 and said they were going to take me, then after not being picked in the next five rounds, I started to get a bit discouraged," said Stevens. "I got another call at the beginning of the 16th round and then four picks later I saw my name on the draft list. I was relieved and excited when it was all done."

Trevor Feeney moved up eight rounds from his 2007 draft selection.

A second team All-MAC selection in 2008, Feeney went 6-4 with a 4.82 ERA and three complete games during his senior year. The righthander won six of his final seven decisions, including his MAC Tournament start, and led the league in conference innings pitched, tied for first with five conference wins and ranked second in overall innings and complete games. In MAC play, Feeney went 5-2 with a 4.24 ERA and went six-plus innings in eight of nine starts.

Feeney, a 39th round draft choice of the Kansas City Royals a year ago, ranks fourth at NIU fourth in career innings pitched, fifth in strikeouts, tied for fifth in wins and sixth in starts and owns two of the six highest season innings totals in school history.

During his career, Feeney won 16 games and completed five starts with 182 strikeouts. He ranked third in the MAC in innings, starts and complete games in 2007.

Feeney earned the CICL Second Half Pitcher of the Year Award and was named the league's player of the week during the 2006 summer season.

"It's an honor to be picked up by the Detroit Tigers," said Feeney. "I am excited to get ready to start my pro career with the Tigers organization and continue on playing the game I have grown up loving to play."

A total of 17 Huskies have signed professionally during Mathey's tenure, including at least one with a Major League affiliate in each of the last five seasons.

-NIU-

Northern Illinois University Baseball

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