Binda drafted by Rockies

Date published: 6/9/2005

From STAFF REPORTS

After a long, fruitless day of waiting, the suspense ended quickly yesterday for Byron Binda.

The North Stafford High School graduate was chosen by the Colorado Rockies in the 19th round of Major League Baseball's First Year Player Draft. He went unclaimed during Tuesday's first 18 rounds, but was the seventh player selected after the draft resumed at noon yesterday.

"I'm just ecstatic right now," Binda said by phone yesterday from Conway, S.C. "I'm ready to get going as soon as possible."

For Binda, the waiting wasn't limited to Tuesday. The right-handed relief pitcher went undrafted out of high school and wasn't chosen after his junior season at Coastal Carolina.

He responded with a strong senior year, going 7-2 with a 3.60 earned run average and 75 strikeouts in 60 innings. He was 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA in Big South Conference games, and said his fastball topped out at 96 mph.

He earned all-Big South second team honors and helped the Chanticleers (50-16) to a No. 1 regional seed in the NCAA tournament. Coastal's season ended Sunday with a loss to Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz.

"Last year I came to the realization that I'm not the biggest guy [6-feet, 185 pounds], and I got passed up again," Binda said. "So I decided to work harder than anybody ever and give everything I had.

"If I didn't get drafted, it was not going to be because I didn't work. I think I put myself in a good position."

Binda finished his career as Coastal Carolina's all-time leader in appearances (117) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.08). He is sixth on the school's career list for total strikeouts (274).

Binda said he expects to be used as in middle to long relief in the pros. He likely will be assigned to one of Colorado's Class-A farm teams: Modesto (Calif.), Ashville (N.C.) or short-season Tri-Cities (Pasco, Wyoming).

Date published: 6/9/2005