June 7, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford pitchers Grant Sides, Andrew Jones and Josh Martin were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.

Sides, a junior from Northport, Ala., was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 12th round of the draft. Jones, a senior from Marietta, Ga., was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round of the draft. Martin, a junior from Enterprise, Ala., went to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 25th round.

The three players drafted are the most in a single draft in Samford history.

After receiving a medical redshirt in 2010, Sides came back in 2011 to be a key member of the top pitching staff in the Southern Conference. Sides saw action in 22 games out of the bullpen, posting an impressive 1.78 ERA.

Sides earned one save and posted a 1-0 record this season, pitching mostly in middle relief. Opponents hit just .138 off of Sides this season.

Sides' 12th-round selection is tied for the second-highest pick in Samford history, tying Wendell Magee, who was selected in the 12th round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1994. The program's highest draft pick came when Michael Marseco was taken in the 11th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 Draft.

Jones served as the Bulldogs' closer throughout the 2011 season. He set a school record with 15 saves, and posted a 1.49 ERA as a senior.

Jones held opponents to just a .184 batting average in 2011, and he struck out 35 batters, while walking just six in 36.1 innings of work.

Martin posted a record of 6-2 and an ERA of 2.76 this season, moving into the weekend rotation at midseason. Martin struck out 45 batters, while walking 17.

For his career, Martin has earned 12 wins on the mound for the Bulldogs. He has posted 133 strikeouts in his three seasons in a Samford uniform.

The MLB Draft will conclude Wednesday, with rounds 31 through 50 taking place.