University of Richmond Athletics
Ben Zeskind Drafted By Toronto Blue Jays In MLB Amateur Draft
06/07/2006 | Baseball
June 7, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - University of Richmond senior centerfielder Ben Zeskind was selected in the 37th round and 1,110 overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in Wednesday's Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Zeskind set Richmond's all-time career hits (310) and doubles (69) mark during his four-year career as a Spider.
Zeskind became the 12th Spider taken in the MLB Amateur Draft in the last five years, and joins Vito Chiaravalloti and Mike Smith, as one of three Richmond players taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the last seven years.
The 6-1, 180 pound, switch-hitter led the Spiders in nearly every offensive category in 2006. The Miami, Fla., native started in all of the Spiders' 55 games, hitting .379 with 89 hits and 57 runs scored. Richmond's centerfielder also stole 19 bases, hit 10 homers and drove in 40 runs out of the leadoff spot for the Spiders. He became the first First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection from Richmond since 2003, and was a quarterfinalist for the Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Award as given by the College Baseball Foundation.
Zeskind ended his career with the Spiders' all-time hits record of 310, topping David Reaver's (2000-03) previous mark of 307. The Miami, Fla., native also broke the career doubles mark of 67, previously held by John Dorman (1993-96) and Sean Casey (1993-95), in the last series of the season. The Miami Palmetto High School alum had 12 triples in his career which is also an all-time career mark at Richmond, tied with Reaver's total in his career.