Register, Gamble and Hulett Selected on Day One of MLB Draft

June 7, 2004

Sean Gamble

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn junior right-handed pitcher Steven Register, junior outfielder Sean Gamble and junior infielder Tug Hulett were selected on the first day of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Register was chosen in the third round by the Colorado Rockies while Gamble went in the sixth round to the Philadelphia Phillies and Hulett in the 14th round to the Texas Rangers.

Register, the 80th pick overall, has primarily been used as a closer for the majority of his career. He is second all-time on the Auburn career saves list and tied for sixth in the SEC record book with 25. During the 2004 campaign, he was moved into the starting rotation late in the year, finishing with a team-best 7-0 record to go along with eight saves. A native of Columbus, Ga., he finished the season with a 4.02 ERA in 56.0 innings pitched with 52 strikeouts.

"It feels good and I am glad it's over with. I have been stressing about this a lot over the past week," Register said. "I am glad I went to the Rockies."

Register is the highest drafted player out of Auburn since Gabe Gross was drafted by Toronto in the first round, No. 15 overall, in 2001.

Gamble, a native of Montgomery, Ala., was the 182nd pick overall. In three years at Auburn he amassed a .290 batting average, hitting a career-best .300 in 2003. This past season he drove in a career-high 34 runs with 20 doubles, which led the team.

"I was excited and relieved that it was over with," Gamble said. "My dad (Oscar Gamble) used to play for them. I just feel blessed."

Hulett, from Shreveport, La., was selected with the 411th pick. This past season he was second on the club with a .306 batting average while also leading the team in walks (44) and on-base percentage (.434). A model of endurance, he started every game for the Tigers this season and played in 176 out of a possible 179 games over the past three seasons.

The last time AU had three players selected in the first 18 rounds was in 2002 when Jonathan Schuerholz (8th), Trent Pratt (12th) and Mike Mueller (16th) were all selected.

The first-year player draft will continue on Tuesday, going through round 50