Given Kutz (pictured) posted a 3.77 ERA this spring

PORTLAND, Ore. --- University of Portland pitchers Chris Siegfried, Given Kutz, Josh Roberts and Ari Ronick were selected on the second day of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday. Siegfried was drafted in the 11th round by the Chicago Cubs, while Kutz was taken in the 18th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Roberts and Ronick were drafted in the 35th and 38th rounds by the Florida Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds, respectively. 

“We are very happy for all four guys,” head coach Chris Sperry said. “They have worked very hard to develop their skills over the last few years and it has paid off. Regardless of whether they decide to return to school or pursue their professional careers, getting drafted is a feather in the cap both for them and our program.”

Siegfried, a junior from McMinnville, Ore., was the 337th overall pick in the draft. The 6-foot, 5-inch left hander made 19 appearances out of the bullpen and two starts in 2007. He posted a 1-2 record with a 5.20 ERA, striking out 22 in 36.1 innings. Siegfried excelled during West Coast Conference play, giving up just six earned runs in 19.2 innings for a 2.75 ERA. He also held WCC hitters to a .246 average.

Kutz, a redshirt junior from Mount Vernon, Wash., was the 566th player taken overall. Kutz graduated this spring as a double major in sociology and Spanish and is coming off a banner year for the Pilots after earning All-West Coast Conference honorable mention honors. Kutz posted a 6-6 record and 3.77 ERA. He struck out 93 batters to rank third on the UP single-season list. A year removed from redshirting following shoulder surgery, Kutz led the pitching staff in wins, starts (15), innings pitched (105.0), shutouts (1) and strikeouts.

Kutz is tied for fourth on Portland’s career charts in games started (39), fifth in career innings pitched (275.2), sixth in fewest walks per nine innings (2.71) and tenth in strikeouts (179).

Roberts, taken with the 1,062nd pick by the Marlins, was a redshirt senior in 2007 and served as the team's closer. The hard-throwing, 6-foot, 5-inch right hander went 3-2 with five saves and a 4.66 ERA in 23 relief appearances this season. He is Portland's all-time leader with 90 career appearances.

Ronick, the 1,150th overall player taken, had his junior season cut short after just eight appearances due to injury. The 6-foot, 5-inch southpaw made six starts and posted a 3.05 ERA, while holding opposing hitters to a staff-best .225 average.

The quartet is the latest group of Pilots to be drafted and hope to follow the same paths to success of some recent UP alums. Two former Pilots broke into the majors for the first time in their careers this year, as Kory Casto (2001-03) has seen two stints with the Washington Nationals, while Eric Hull (2001-02) was also recently promoted with the Dodgers for a brief stint.

Portland had two pitchers drafted last season: Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Mariners) and Joe Jones (Dodgers).