Kenny Rosenberg Selected in the Eighth Round of the MLB Draft

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NORTHRIDGE, CA---

Following a breakout sophomore season with CSUN Baseball in 2016, left-handed starter Kenny Rosenberg was selected in the eighth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday afternoon. Taken 240th overall in the draft, Rosenberg became the highest drafted Matador since 2009.

A native of Mill Valley, CA, Rosenberg enjoyed an outstanding 2016 campaign for CSUN as he emerged as the team's top starter during the season. After missing all of 2015 due to an injury, Rosenberg went 6-1 in 15 starts to go along with a 3.21 ERA. The Big West Conference leader in strikeouts with 118, Rosenberg also led the Matadors in innings pitched (98.0) and opponent batting average (.198).

Rosenberg became the first Matador in 10 seasons to reach the 100-strikeout milestone in a season and he fanned six or more batters in 13 starts including racking up 10 or more Ks in three contests. He also showcased the ability to go deep into many games throughout 2016 as Rosenberg tossed six or more innings in 13 appearances including posting nine quality starts. With 98 innings of work on the mound, Rosenberg also became the first CSUN pitcher since 2006 to toss 94 or more innings in a single season.

A three-time Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week on the year, Rosenberg had numerous standout performances for the Matadors. On February 27, Rosenberg tossed a then career-high 7.2 innings against Northern Colorado in his second collegiate start, striking out a personal-best 16 batters while allowing one hit. In the contest, Rosenberg combined with junior Samuel Myers to tie a CSUN record for strikeouts in a game with 19 in the 6-0 win.

In March, Rosenberg won three starts including tossing his first career complete game at Portland on March 25, fanning nine batters. The southpaw also struck out 11 batters and surrendered two hits over seven innings in a 7-1 win over Houston Baptist on March 19.

Rosenberg churned out his second complete game of the season on May 21 in a stellar performance at Purdue. Allowing just two hits on the day, Rosenberg struck out 12 batters, earning his first complete game shutout. He also ended the game by retiring the final 16 batters in a row, including the final three batters on strikeouts.

In two seasons in a Matador uniform, Rosenberg registered a 3.72 ERA, a 6-3 record and 128 strikeouts in 109 career innings. Before missing 2015, he appeared in 15 relief appearances as a freshman in 2014 and he worked 11.0 innings, striking out 10 batters. In 2016, Rosenberg tied Robby Crabtree (1996) for the the eighth-most strikeouts in a single season in CSUN history.

Following Rosenberg's selection, CSUN players have now been selected in 12 consecutive drafts and he is the second student-athlete to be picked in the first 10 rounds in as many seasons. In 2015, Jerry Keel was selected in the ninth round of the draft by the San Diego Padres. Rosenberg is the first Matador to be taken as high as the eighth round of the draft since right-handed pitcher Brian Slover's eighth round selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009. In their history, the Rays have picked three Matadors in the draft as Tampa Bay had previously taken outfielder Adam Nikolic (2002) and right-handed pitcher Ryan McCarney (2009).

A total of 14 Matadors have played in Major League Baseball, which have included Paul Edmondson, Bill Slayback, Lyman Bostock, Jason Thompson, Gil Kubski, Steve Ellsworth, Jim Vatcher, Jeremy Hernandez, Robert Fick, Adam Kennedy, Kameron Loe, Bill Murphy, Leo Rosales and Chuckie Fick.

Kenny Rosenberg Selected in the Eighth Round of the MLB Draft

Players Mentioned

Jerry Keel

Samuel Myers

Kenny Rosenberg

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