June 8, 2007

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina left fielder Reid Fronk, catcher Benji Johnson and right-hander Robert Woodard were each selected Friday in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, giving the Tar Heels six total selections for their most since 2000. Fronk went to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with the first pick of the seventh round (215th overall), Johnson was picked by the Atlanta Braves in the 17th round (528th overall) and Woodard went to the San Diego Padres in the 20th round (627th overall).

Fronk has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2007 with career bests of a .327 average, 11 home runs and 51 RBI in his first year in the outfield. He is a career .309 hitter with 110 RBI and 21 home runs in 178 games, including an active streak of 134 straight. Fronk was a second-team All-ACC selection this year.

Johnson has tallied 23 home runs and 78 RBI over 145 career games, including 107 starts. He hit a career-best .273 with 14 homers and 44 RBI a year ago and is batting .256 with six home runs and 26 RBI in 43 games. He has also been outstanding defensively with a career .989 fielding percentage behind the plate.

Woodard, who was drafted by St. Louis in the 46th round last year, returned to school and claimed the Tar Heels' career win record with 33 wins. He is 33-5 with a 2.97 career ERA and 253 strikeouts over 361 innings. A three-time All-ACC pick, Woodard is the only pitcher in UNC history to rank in the career top 10 in wins, winning percentage, innings and strikeouts. He is a career-best 10-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 15 starts this season.

Shortstop Josh Horton (Oakland, second round), right-hander Luke Putkonen (Detroit, third round) and closer Andrew Carignan (Oakland, fifth round) were selected Thursday. UNC has had at least one player selected since 1979.