By: Houston Taylor
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Three other Southern Arkansas players were selected Wednesday in the final rounds of the last day of the Major League Baseball draft, joining right-hander Hayden Simpson (6-0, 175, R/R, Magnolia), who was the 16th overall pick by the Chicago Cubs Monday.
Senior starting pitcher Cole Lohden (6-4, 220, R/R, Frisco, Texas) and 
senior shortstop Andrew Whittington (6-2, 200, L/R, Texas City, Texas) were taken in the 33rd round, while senior relief pitcher Chad Yinger (6-8, 225, R/R, Monroe, Mich.) went in the 48th round. Along with Simpson, the four combine for the most Mulerider players selected in the same draft year.
Taken with the 989th pick in the 33rd round by the Kansas City Royals, Lohden was a member of SAU’s starting rotation this season, posting a 6-2 record with a 4.10 ERA. He tossed two complete games in 10 starts and made 15 appearances, striking out 69 in 59 1/3 innings of work. He recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts in a nine-inning complete game 5-1 win over North Alabama May 6 that advanced Southern Arkansas to the championship game of the Gulf South Conference tournament.
A transfer from Hill (Texas) College, Lohden compiled a 10-2 mark over his two years as a Mulerider with a 5.08 ERA in 16 starts and 27 appearances, fanning 99 batters in 88 2/3 innings.
Whittington was an All-American in both his seasons at SAU and was chosen two spots after Lohden at 991 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hit .390 this year with 22 doubles, six triples, six home runs and had 56 RBI from his leadoff spot. Whittington posted .615 and .502 slugging and on-base percentages, drew 41 walks and led Southern Arkansas with 24 stolen bases. After going hitless in the team’s 
season-opener, he rattled off a 37-consecutive game hitting streak, a new conference mark.
Whittington combined to hit .381 in his two years after transferring from Galveston (Texas) College, totaling 39 doubles, 14 triples, 13 home runs, 132 RBI, 46 stolen bases, and picking up 182 hits and scoring 160 runs.
A first-year player out of Oakland (Mich.) University, Yinger was selected 1,464th in the 48th round by the Los Angeles Angels. Mainly filling a relief role in his one season with the Muleriders, he compiled a 4-0 record and 5.34 ERA in 12 appearances and struck out 34 in 32 innings. He did have three starts, including picking up the win in a dominating eight strikeout, seven-inning complete game, 19-2 affair over Valdosta State May 7 in the championship series of the league tournament.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Simpson still hadn’t received word from the Cubs organization concerning his destination status.
The four players selected in this year’s draft is a first for the storied 
baseball program. SAU has had two players chosen on three different occasions, most recently, last year when former third baseman/pitcher James Schroeder (Montgomery, Texas) was chosen in the 33rd round by the New York Mets and pitcher Aaron Terry (Rison) went in the 42nd to the St. Louis Cardinals. Former pitcher Sammie Mathis (El Dorado) (44th round, New York Mets) and outfielder Tyler Nicol (Decatur, Ill.) (75th, Florida Marlins) were drafted in 1994, and pitcher Joe Murdock (Benton) (18th, San Diego Padres) and outfielder Bob Block (Grand Mound, Iowa) (39th, Baltimore Orioles) went in 1988.
Southern Arkansas University MLB Amateur Draft Picks
Year, Round, Overall Pick, Team, Player, Position
2010, 1, 16, Cubs, Hayden Simpson, RHP
2010, 33, 989, Royals, Cole Lohden, RHP
2010, 33, 991, Diamondbacks, Andrew Whittington, SS
2010, 48, 1464, Angels, Chad Yinger, RHP
2009, 33, 1004, Mets, James Schroeder, 3B
2009, 42, 1269, Cardinals, Aaron Terry, RHP
2007, 18, 572, Twins, Lee Martin, RHP
2006, 31, 934, Mets, Jeremy Hambrice, OF
2004, 10, 295, Royals, Bobby Beeson, LHP
2003, 22, 651, Reds, Brian Barr, RHP
2002, 28, 852, Cardinals, Melvin Falu, 2B
1995, 47, 1304, Indians, Sammie Mathis, RHP
1994, 44, 1204, Mets, Sammie Mathis, RHP
1994, 75, 166o, Marlins, Tyler Nicol, OF
1993, 86, 1711, Marlins, Stephen Haggard, RHP
1992, 37, 1035, Cardinals, Trey Ritz, SS
1991, 16, 424, Indians, Rodney Koller, RHP
1988, 18, 448, Padres, Joe Murdock, LHP
1988, 39, 997, Orioles, Bob Block, OF
1987, 37, 950, Reds, Keith Beam, OF
1985, 3, 70, Phillies, Vince Holyfield, OF
1980, 16, 392, Braves, Dale Weaver , SS
*1976, 1, January Draft, 2, Astros, Gary Wilson, RHP
* Originally, three separate drafts were held each year, with the June draft being the main draft and largest. A second draft was held in January for high school and college players who graduated in the winter.
