Gainesville, FL – Santa Fe College freshman centerfielder Keon Broxton (Lakeland, FL) parlayed a big 2009 season into a top 100 draft pick on Tuesday night when he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Major League Baseball “First Year Player Draft”.
“We are really excited for Keon,” said Saints’ Coach Johnny Wiggs. “He came to Santa Fe as a 29th round pick last season and really elevated his game to a different level, showing that he deserved to get selected higher in this year’s draft. We are extremely happy that he will get to realize his dream of playing professional baseball.”
The 6’3″ outfielder was selected in the third round as the 95th overall pick. He was the third Junior College player taken overall, behind Chipola College pitcher Patrick Corbin (round two, pick 80) and Hillsborough CC outfielder Evan Chambers (round three, pick 84). Broxton and Chambers were teammates at Lakeland High School.
Broxton is now the highest draft pick in Santa Fe College history. Ben Kozlowski was the previous highest selection when the Atlanta Braves took him in the 12th round of the 1999 MLB Draft.
During his freshman season at Santa Fe, Broxton hit .340 (53-for-156) with 10 homeruns, nine doubles, four triples and 38 RBI. He exploded at the JUCO World Series in late May, hitting over .400 for the six games with five homeruns.
Santa Fe College 2009-10 signee Jeffrey Glenn from Winter Haven High School was selected in the ninth round (284th pick) by the New York Mets.
Major League Baseball teams have until Monday, August 17 to sign their picks. If the player is not signed, they are returned to the draft for next season.