June 8, 2004
New York, New York - Loyola Marymount's Kevin Jenson was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 30th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday in New York. Jenson, a senior right-handed pitcher, was the 910th pick overall. Just seven rounds later, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected fellow senior Billy Lockin.
Jenson was instrumental in the Lions' West Coast Conference series win over Santa Clara, when he entered the game after a 22-minute rain delay in the fifth with LMU trailing 7-1. Jenson was strong through his 4.1 innings of work, holding Santa Clara scoreless without issuing a walk. With Jenson on the mound, the Lions put together a 12-7 come-from-behind win in the series' deciding game to give the Yuba City, Calif., native his first victory of the season.
The 6'-4" Jenson completed his senior season with LMU with a 2-1 record.
"Jenson will continue to get better, as his arm gets stronger each day," Head Coach Frank Cruz said. "As time passes, I think many will be excited with his progress."
Lockin, the Lions' shortstop, heads to the Diamondbacks organization with his name all over the LMU and WCC record books. His 274 career hits rank him eighth all-time in WCC history and third at LMU. He is also fifth all-time at LMU in stolen bases (57), seventh all-time in games played (216), and eighth all-time in runs scored (169).
The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native was a 2002 All-WCC and Jewish Sports Review All-America first-team selection. Prior to his senior campaign, Lockin was selected as the WCC's best shortstop and best baserunner by Baseball America.
Lockin was named the WCC/Rawlings Player of the Week on March 8, after going 9-for-17 (.529) with seven runs scored, two doubles, and three RBI as LMU defeated Fresno State and then swept the two-time defending WCC Champion San Diego.
"I think Lockin will have a chance to play both positions up the middle," Cruz said, "and as his career develops, he will probably settle into one of them. He's going to surprise a lot of people in the Diamondbacks organization."
Jenson and Lockin join right-handed pitcher Will Quaglieri, who continued to the next level by signing with the New York Mets in May as a pre-draft fifth-year senior.
In addition, a Lion signee who is slated to join LMU baseball in the fall, was taken in the 14th round on day one of the draft. That player has the option of forgoing his college eligibility and turning professional or joining the Lions as planned.
"Along with Quaglieri, both Jenson and Lockin deserved to be selected," Cruz said. "We are excited for them and believe they will do well in their respective organizations. However, we are extremely disappointed that Jonathan Higashi, Brady Koch, and Clint McGill were not drafted, as they also deserved the selection."
-GO LIONS-
