University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond's Alex Hale Drafted By Boston Red Sox
06/08/2008 | Baseball
June 8, 2008
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - University of Richmond senior pitcher Alex Hale was drafted Friday, taken by the reigning World Series Champion Boston Red Sox in the 30th-round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. Hale was the 922nd pick overall by Boston and represented the 16th Spider drafted in the last seven years.
A native of Omaha, Neb., the right-hander returned for his senior campaign after the Los Angeles Angels drafted Hale in the 44th-round last season. Hale will sign with Boston and play this summer for the Class A Lowell Spinners in Lowell, Mass.
"Obviously this has been a dream of mine and I'm very excited to be a part of an organization with such a great history and tradition as the Red Sox," said Hale, who will most likely pitch in a short-relief and set-up role for Lowell. "I'm going to take everything I learned from my coaches and teammates at Richmond and put it to work next week."
Lowell begins its Short A season June 17th.
An eight-win, All-Atlantic 10 starter in 2007, Hale began the 2008 season out of the bullpen as a closer where he collected three of his four career saves. But injuries depleted the starting staff and forced the flame-thrower back into the rotation.
He finished his senior campaign with a 4-2 record and 5.38 ERA in 56.0 innings. Hale fanned 57 and walked 18, while the opposition batted .283 off him. Last season saw Hale throw a team-leading 93.1 innings with 93 strikeouts, an 8-2 record and 4.53 ERA.
Hale, who sports a 4.20 career ERA, graduates from Richmond ranked 10th all-time in wins (20-7), eighth in strikeouts (226), seventh in appearances (59) and 10th in innings pitched (225.0).
He is the first Spider taken by the Red Sox organization since Brian Lane went in the 18th-round in 2001. Mike Dwyer went in the 13th-round to Boston in 1999.
