June 8, 2010

VAN METER SELECTED IN 21ST ROUND OF MLB DRAFT BY TEXAS RANGERS

RICHMOND, Va. – From the moment he first started tossing a baseball with his dad in the backyard of the family’s Farmingdale, N.Y. home, junior Joe Van Meter had dreamed about the opportunity to play in the big leagues.

On Tuesday afternoon, Van Meter had the first part of that dream come true when the Texas Rangers selected him in the 21st round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

“This whole draft experience has been incredible and it’s tough to put into words what this means to me because I’ve been waiting my whole life for this chance,” Van Meter said. “My family and I waited around all day listening for my name to be called and when we heard it, it was unbelievable. I can’t wait for the opportunity to be a great ambassador for VCU baseball.”

Van Meter, who put together one of the best offensive seasons in the program’s history, was taken as a right-handed pitcher after lighting up radar guns in the mid-90s throughout workouts last summer.

In his two seasons on the mound for the Black & Gold, Van Meter posted a 1-0 record in 15 appearances with a 5.45 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 26.1 innings of work.

“The Rangers told me they want me to work on developing my repertoire as a pitcher and that’s what I’ll do,” Van Meter said. “I’m just willing to do whatever it takes to make it at the next level.”

Out of the last four draftees to come out of the VCU baseball program, three have been taken by the Rangers with former Rams Jared Bolden and Cody Eppley, both of whom are still in the organization.

“I’m really excited about the chance to play with guys like Jared and Cody,” Van Meter said. “Both of those guys have been incredible at demonstrating what it takes to make it at the next level and it would be great to play with those guys.”