June 6, 2006

NEW YORK, NY - Wagner redshirt-junior Andrew Bailey (Haddon Heights, NJ / Paul VI) was drafted by the Oakland A's in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier today.

Bailey was the 21st pick of the sixth round and the 188th overall. He also was the fifth player taken by Oakland and their third pitcher. His selection is the highest-ever by a Northeast Conference player surpassing former Quinnipiac standout Bryan Sabatella, who was taken in the ninth round (No. 263) a year ago.

"I'm really excited and happy to be drafted by Oakland," said Bailey. "It was unexpected especially after coming back from Tommy John (surgery) last year."

The righthanded flamethrower had a highly successful season going 3-1 with two complete games, three saves and a 2.03 ERA in 44.1 innings of work while striking out 53 and limiting hitters to a .146 average. For his career he amassed 14 wins and a school-record 237 strikeouts to go along with a 3.94 ERA in 219.1 innings while leading the Green & White to three-straight NEC Tournament appearances.

This was the second-time in his illustrious career that he has been drafted as he was selected in the 16th round by the Milwaukee Brewers a year ago.

Bailey was recently slated as the third-best prospect, including the top-ranked collegian, in the state of New York by Baseball America and entered the season as the 34th ranked collegiate senior by the publication.

He recently graduated with a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. After he agrees to terms with the team he will likely start out with the Vancouver Canadians in the short-season Northwest League.