St. Albans Alumnus Danny Hultzen Drafted Second Overall in 2011 MLB Draft

A tall, athletic left handed pitcher with uncanny accuracy and a speedy mid 90's mph fastball does not come around everyday. Especially ones that also happen to be Academic All Americans, with the maturity to go back to school after being drafted three years ago out of St. Albans School in Washington, DC in the 10th round by the Diamondbacks. Hultzen seems like the total package, and with comparisons to Randy Johnson, Greg Maddox and Cliff Lee, it's easy to see why he was the no brainer selection at second overall in 2011 MLB Draft.

After three years at the University of Virginia, Hultzen not only boasted a 2.18 ERA in his 31-5 career, but also he was an outstanding 18 for 19 in successful stolen base attempts, showcasing his overall athleticism. The Mariners may have found themselves a fantastic number 2, if not an Ace, who could anchor a solid bullpen for years to come.

Sources tell Larry Stone at the Seattle Times that it will take at least a four-year $13.2 million contract to keep Danny from returning to UVA for his final year, just $2 million less than the Nationals ponied up for the recovering Stephen Strasburg. Mariners ownership have been fawning over the likeable and mature young man, going out of their way to say they have confidence he is not the type of young man who would never do anything to tarnish the reputation of the organization.

While I am personally biased as a fellow STA Bulldog, his rise to stardom is particularly impressive considering that his high school alma mater forbids recruiting athletes. In a class of just over 80, his excellence both athletically and academically should be commended. The son of a doctor and a psychiatrist, it seems as though he approaches all tasks with the integrity and dedication demonstrated to him by his parents.

That being said, it is Hultzen himself who has dominated almost everyone he's faced this year. The kid is out there pummeling the opposition at every opportunity. His Junior year ERA is a staggering 1.57 and his 11-3 record has brought the Caveliers to the apex of college baseball: The College World Series, where they will face The University of California. I wish Hultzen's UVA the best of luck this Sunday at 2 PM, although it is my personal opinion that he's not going to need it.

STA and UVA students and alumns, enjoy these moments. They don't come around too often.