CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois baseball's Jordan Kreke was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, becoming the third Panther picked this year.

 

Kreke was selected 388th overall, the seventh pick in the 13th round. The Bartelso, Ill., native concluded his EIU career last month as a three-year starting infielder. While playing primarily shortstop as a Panther, he also demonstrated the ability to be an effective relief pitcher during his senior season.

 

Kreke joins Tyler Kehrer (Compensation Round A, 48th overall) and Brett Nommensen (eighth round) as Panthers selected in this year's draft. This marks the first time since 1988 that three Panthers have been picked in the same draft.

 

Three of the first four Ohio Valley Conference players selected this year have been Panthers. Kehrer was the top pick from the nine-team league, while Nommensen and Kreke was the first two players to go on day two of the draft.

 

Kreke was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2009 after feasting on league pitching. He batted .507 with 40 RBIs in EIU's 18 conference games, leading the Panthers to the OVC regular-season title. He also retired consecutive 20 batters over a stretch of five relief appearances in early April.

 

After being one of 15 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which recognizes the national shortstop of the year, Kreke was a named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball.