TOWSON, Md. - Junior righthander Drew Permison (Oakland Mills H.S./Columbia, Md.) of the Towson University baseball team was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 42nd round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Wednesday afternoon. He was the 1,266th player selected in the draft.
Permison is the 14th Tiger baseball player who has been drafted since Mike Gottlieb became the Tigers' coach in 1988. He is the first Tiger baseball player drafted by the Blue Jays.
His selection marks the third consecutive year that a Towson baseball player has been drafted. Last year, righthanded pitcher Josh Squatrito was chosen by St. Louis in the 25th round. In 2008, outfielder Brian Conley, '08 was selected by Baltimore in the 17th round. The leading hitter for the Delmarva Shorebirds, Conley will play in the South Atlantic League all-star game later this month.
"We are very pleased for Drew," said Coach Gottlieb. "Drew is one of those kids that everybody liked and we're all pulling for him to do well. This is a dream-come-true for him. If he can develop better command of his pitches, he could do well. His fast ball and curve ball are legitimate and his changeup is very good. When he throws strikes, he is very effective."
A three-year performer for the Tigers, Permison excelled as a starter and reliever for the Tigers. In his career, he made 60 appearances and started 16 times. He pitched one complete game and compiled an impressive 13-6 record. In 155.2 innings of work, he compiled a 5.20 E.R.A. In his career, he walked 81 batters and had 142 strikeouts. He also posted four career saves.
As a freshman, he was named to the Colonial Athletic Association's All-Rookie team and was chosen for the LOUISVILLE SLUGGER All-Freshman team. He helped the Tigers finish the season as the CAA runners-up with a 30-28 record. In 21 appearances, Permison posted a 6-0 record with one save and a 5.62 E.R.A. In 2009, he became a starting pitcher for the Tigers and compiled a 3-2 record with a 6.24 E.R.A.
In 2010, he emerged as one of the top relief pitchers in the CAA. He made 26 appearances and recorded a 4-4 mark with three saves. He ranked among the CAA leaders with a 3.35 E.R.A. In 45.2 innings, he issued 32 walks and struck out 47 batters. In early April, he led the Tigers to an impressive three-game sweep over Georgia State by earning a relief win in each game. He pitched four scoreless innings in the sweep and allowed only two hits.
Permison, who ranks seventh on Towson's all-time list with 60 career appearances, has the third-highest winning percentage (.684) in the history of the program. With 13 wins, he is ranked ninth on Towson's all-time list while his 142 career strikeouts rank him seventh.
