June 8, 2007
New York, N.Y. - Three Fordham baseball players, pitcher Cory Riordan (Killingworth, Conn./Haddam Killingworth), catcher John Mollicone (Cranston, R.I./Bishop Hendricken), and pitcher Javier Martinez (South Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep), were all day two selection during the 2007 MLB Draft. This marks the first time Fordham has had three draft choices in the same year.
This gives Fordham eight baseball draft picks in the past six seasons, which includes Martinez (twice), Riordan, Mollicone, Greg Smith (2006), Rob Semerano (2004), Bobby Kingsbury (2002) and Jason Conlisk (2002). This also marks the third time in six years that Fordham has had multiple draft picks.
Riordan got things started, as he was selected in the sixth round (pick #192) of the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He is the second Fordham pitcher taken by Colorado, as Colin Young was a ninth round pick in 1999.
Riordan is coming off an excellent junior season, as he was listed as the top prospect in the Atlantic 10 by Baseball America. He ended the season with a 7-4 record and a 3.95 ERA, and was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Championship team, helping the Rams to their first Atlantic 10 Championship game since 1998.
A former Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-American, Riordan struck out 100 batters this season in 100.1 innings pitched. He joined Hank Borowy (1939) and Dick Egan (1907) as the only Rams to reach 100 strikeouts in a single season, while also becoming the third Ram to have over 100 innings pitched in one year, joining Borowy (1939) and Paul Darrigo (1988).
In three seasons at Fordham, Riordan was 21-11 with a 4.02 ERA, 201 strikeouts in 246.0 innings pitched, and four shutouts. He currently ranks fourth in career wins and strikeouts, while being eighth in innings pitched.
The draft continued with Mollicone's selection at the top of the 27th round (pick #815) by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Mollicone is coming off a superb senior season, setting career-highs in most offensive categories, and helped the Rams to their first Atlantic 10 Championship game since 1998. He hit .325 this season with 14 doubles, nine home runs, and 53 RBI. He became just the fourth Ram ever to have over 50 RBI in a single season.
In four seasons at Fordham, Mollicone was a .293 hitter with 182 hits, 45 doubles, 13 home runs, and 124 RBI. He ranks tied for fourth in career doubles at Fordham, and eighth in RBI.
Martinez capped the day for Fordham, as he was selected in the 29th round (pick #885) by the Seattle Mariners. He joins former Fordham Ram Mike Marchiano (1997) as a Seattle draft choice.
Martinez, who was drafted by Washington in the 42nd round last year, is coming off a superb senior season, helping the Rams to their first Atlantic 10 Championship game since 1998. He posted a 9-4 record and a 4.40 ERA to go with 63 strikeouts in 94.0 innings pitched. He set personal bests in wins and innings pitched this season.
In four seasons at Fordham, Martinez finished as the Rams' career leader in strikeouts (264) and innings pitched (296.1), while posting a 23-20 record and two saves. He is tied for second in career wins and seventh in career appearances (68).
