Furman's A.J. Davidiuk Drafted By San Diego Padres In 29th Round

June 7, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman shortstop/third baseman A.J. Davidiuk (Day-vah-DUKE) has been selected by the San Diego Padres in the 29th round of the Major League Draft, it was announced today.

Davidiuk, a product of Indian Trail, N.C., who graduated cum laude from Furman last Saturday with a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience, was the consensus 2006 Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year selection in voting by league head coaches and media association. He batted .362 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI in leading Furman to a 32-23 record and 16-11, third place finish in the SoCon. In league play he hit .430 with eight home runs and 31 RBI and was twice named league player-of-the-week, TIAA-CREF scholar athlete-of-the-week, as well as SoCon Player-of-the-Month for April.

He finished his career ranked first in Furman career doubles (54), second in hits (264), fourth in runs (155) and RBI (147), and ninth in home runs (24).

He was a member of the 2006 Furman senior class that has posted a 115-109 record -- the winningest four-year stretch in Furman baseball history.

Davidiuk is the third Paladin to be drafted by San Diego. Catcher William Hancock was selected by the Padres in the 10th and seventh rounds, respectively, in 1968 and `69, and in 1974 catcher Don Leege was taken by San Diego in the eighth round.

Furman currently has three products playing professional baseball, including RHP Danny Rueckel `02 (Double-A Harrisburg Senators/Washington), RHP Tom Mastny `03 (Triple-A Buffalo Bisons/Cleveland), and 3B Matthew Betsill `05 (Rookie League Elizabethon Twins/Minnesota).