June 7, 2010
Secaucus, NJ - The Cal State Fullerton Titans have a pair of first-round draft picks in Christian Colon and Gary Brown as announced by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig Monday afternoon from the podium of the 2010 First Year Players Draft.
Colon became the highest selection for Fullerton since Adam Johnson went second overall back in 2000. The shortstop out of Corona, Calif., Colon, went fourth overall to Kansas City. Brown, a product of Diamond Bar High School, was the 24th pick overall to San Francisco.
Colon and Brown become the first pair of first-rounders to emerge from Cal State Fullerton in the school's 36-year Div. I history.
Colon heard the commissioner's announcement in his apartment.
"I was with my dad and with my teammates. We were just sitting around making jokes and kidding around, and it happened. I was so surprised. I'm glad it's all over and now I can focus on tonight."
The Titans are looking to advance to the NCAA Super Regional with a win in the seventh and deciding game of the Fullerton Regional Monday night. They are facing the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Colon becomes the Titans' 11th first-rounder, and the first since Ricky Romero was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2005.
The Titans now have four Top 5 overall picks with Colon joining Phil Nevin (No. 1 overall), Adam Johnson (No. 2 overall), and Mike Harkey (No. 4 overall).
"I am very excited and very honored to be selected by the Kansas City Royals," Colon said from the Goodwin Field press box. " I was very excited when I heard my name four picks into the draft, and I am at a loss for words. Now I have to go out tonight and take care of business."
Brown found out as he waited just one more pick before he headed out to stretch with his teammates.
"Words can't express what I am feeling right now. I am very, very excited," the Big West Conference Player of the Year said on his way to tell his teammates.
Brown has missed the final 8 games of the regular season and the entire Fullerton Regional with a broken middle finger (left/glove hand) and had sent Giants representatives a cell phone picture of his hand to confirm he was alright.
"I had been told that the Giants had some interest and I had sent some medical records over to them earlier in the day. I think the cell phone picture sealed the deal."
Brown becomes the Titans' 12th first-round draft pick.
The speedy outfielder is currently hitting .438 with 31 stolen bases. He will be re-evaluated this week should the Titans' advance to the Super Regionals next weekend at UCLA.
There have been numerous teams with two-or-more first round draft picks, multiple teams over the few three seasons.
In 2009 North Carolina had No. 2 Dustin Ackley (1B/OF to Seattle) and No. 15 Alex White (RHP to Cleveland) and Missouri had No. 12 Aaron Crow (RHP to Kansas City) and No. 22 Kyle Gibson (RHP to Minnesota) selected.
Miami had three top round picks in 2008 in No. 7 Yonder Alonso 1(B to Reds) No. 12, Jemile Weeks (2B to Oakland) and No. 27 Carlos Gutierrez (RHP to Minnesota). Arizona, Arizona State and South Carolina also had two first rounders in that draft.
There will be a press teleconference on Tuesday, June 8, sometime in the afternoon.