Portland Pitchers Siegfried, Kutz Taken in MLB Draft Day 2

Portland had two pitchers drafted last season: Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Mariners) and Joe Jones (Dodgers).

Given Kutz (on the left) posted a 3.77 ERA this spring, while Siegfried was a top reliever for the Pilots. Photo: UP Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. - University of Portland junior pitchers Chris Siegfried and Given Kutz were selected on the second day of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Siegfried was drafted in the 11th round by the Chicago Cubs, while Kutz was taken in the 18th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

“We are very happy for both Chris and Given,” head coach Chris Sperry said. “They have worked very hard to develop their skills over the last few years and it has paid off. Regardless of whether they decide to return to school or pursue their professional careers, getting drafted is a feather in the cap both for them and our program.”

Siegfried, a junior from McMinnville, Ore., was the 337th overall pick in the draft.

The 6-foot, 5-inch left hander made 19 appearances out of the bullpen and two starts in 2007. He posted a 1-2 record with a 5.20 ERA, striking out 22 in 36.1 innings.

Siegfried excelled during West Coast Conference play, giving up just six earned runs in 19.2 innings for a 2.75 ERA. He also held WCC hitters to a .246 average.

Kutz, a redshirt junior from Mount Vernon, Wash., was the 566th player taken overall.

Kutz graduated this spring as a double major in sociology and Spanish and is coming off a banner year for the Pilots after earning All-West Coast Conference honorable mention honors. Kutz posted a 6-6 record and 3.77 ERA.

He struck out 93 batters to rank third on the UP single-season list.

A year removed from redshirting following shoulder surgery, Kutz led the pitching staff in wins, starts (15), innings pitched (105.0), shutouts (1) and strikeouts.

He is tied for fourth on Portland’s career charts in games started (39), fifth in career innings pitched (275.2), sixth in fewest walks per nine innings (2.71) and tenth in strikeouts (179).

Siegfried and Kutz are the latest Pilots to be drafted and hope to follow the same paths to success of some recent UP alums.

Two former Pilots broke into the majors for the first time in their careers this year, as Kory Casto (2001-03) has seen two stints with the Washington Nationals, while Eric Hull (2001-02) was also recently promoted with the Dodgers for a brief stint.

Portland had two pitchers drafted last season: Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Mariners) and Joe Jones (Dodgers).

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