June 5, 2002

OXFORD, Ohio - Juniors Mike Galloway (St. Thomas, Ontario/Central Michigan) and Chris Leonard (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales), and seniors Russ Bayer (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) and Billy Kieninger (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia) were selected in the 2002 version of the Major League Baseball Entry Draft. Leonard and Galloway, both freshman all-America selections two years ago, were taken in the eighth round and 14th rounds by the Toronto Blue Jays, while Bayer was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kieninger by the Detroit Tigers.

Leonard was Miami's highest draft pick this season, 236th overall, when he was selected by the Jays in the eighth round. Despite a rocky season in 2002, his summer in the Cape Cod League and previous two seasons in Oxford have earned the respect of major league scouts. He was named the Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Year in 2001 after leading the league with a paltry 0.98 earned run average and 6-0 record on the hill. Last season with the RedHawks, Leonard led the team with an 11-3 record and was fourth in the Mid-American Conference with a 3.36 ERA in 17 appearances. Twice during the 2001 campaign Leonard was named the East Division Pitcher of the Week. He broke Miami's single-season record of innings pitched with 112.2 and tied the single-season record of 11 wins.

Galloway was selected 416th overall in the 14th round of the draft by the Blue Jays. An NCAA Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and first-team selection at Central Michigan Galloway garnered his second first-team honor in 2002 by leading the conference with a .422 batting average. His versatility with the RedHawks this season led to his being named the MAC's top utility player. He started all 59 games this season for the RedHawks, 34 as a first baseman, 15 behind the plate, nine at third, and one as a designated hitter. Galloway also led the MAC in hits and runs scored.

Bayer, a left-handed pitcher who started four years for the Red and White, finished his career as one of the most consistent pitchers to wear the Miami uniform. Bayer, who went 7-4 in 2002, finished his career with a 28-14 career record--the second-highest win total of any Miami player. He was selected in the 20th round as the 583rd pick.

The right-handed Kieninger rounded out the foursome of drafted RedHawks when he was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 770th overall pick. His 70 career appearances rank second all-time at Miami, while his 249.0 innings pitched are tenth all-time. He departs Miami with a 17-16 overall record and four saves, including a 3-2 record and 4.14 earned run average as a starter this past season. Kieninger joins Jason Knoedler, from last year's squad, in the Detroit organization.

Also representing the Red and White in this year's draft are three newcomers to next year's team. Matt Long, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound right-handed pitcher from Granville, Ohio, was selected 551st overall by the Houston Astros. Chosen 1263rd overall by the Chicago Cubs was Geoff Orr, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound shortstop from Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Ill. And rounding out Miami's committed trio is Matt Raguse, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed hurler from St. Louis Community College who was selected with the 1456th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The foursome of current players adds to a growing list of RedHawk baseball players who have been selected in the draft over the past two seasons. Last year Miami had four individuals drafted and one free agent signee.