Dusten Knight 5-22-13
Larry Levanti
Dusten Knight (#35)

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EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Saturday that senior right-handed pitcher Dusten Knight has been selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 26th pick of the 28th round (852nd overall) of the MLB Draft.
 
During the 2013 season, Knight ranked eighth in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (11.08), 45th in total strikeouts (96) and 44th in complete games (four), one of which was a shutout. The 96 strikeouts tied for the 11th highest single-season total in program history. Overall, Knight went 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA. In 15 games (13 starts), he pitched 78 innings, averaging six innings per start, while allowing just 68 hits (7.8 per nine innings) and 39 walks (4.5 per nine innings) while recording a strikeout to walk ratio of 5:2. Opponents hit .235 against Knight, including .222 in 108 bats by lefties, and .243 in 181 at-bats by righties. He pitched similarly from the wind up and the stretch, holding opponents to .233 with the bases empty and .238 with runners on base. He also kept the ball down; recording 75 groundouts compared to 51 fly outs, the second best ratio on the team. None of the fly balls against Knight became sacrifice flies.
 
Knight pitched his second complete game and first shutout of the season in game one of a doubleheader at North Dakota on May 4, striking out a career-high 14 while allowing four hits and four walks, punctuating a stretch of four starts in which Knight went 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA. In 25 innings, he allowed one run on 13 hits and nine walks while striking out 36.
 
Knight pitched complete games in each of his last two starts, firing a two-hitter against Utah Valley on May 17 and tying his career-high with a season-high nine innings while striking out eight against eventual Great West Conference (GWC) champion Houston Baptist in the second round of the GWC Tournament on May 22.
 
Knight earned several honors throughout the season, including sharing a GWC Pitcher of the Week award with six of teammates, College Sports Madness All-GWC Second Team honors, All-GWC Second Team honors, and All-GWC Tournament Team honors.
 
Knight becomes the 33rd Bronc to ever be selected in the MLB Draft and the second in as many years after the Houston Astros drafted third baseman Angel Ibanez with the first pick of the 28th round (849th overall) in last year's draft.
 
Knight is the 17th Broncs pitcher to ever be selected in the MLB Draft and the first since 2006, when the St. Louis Cardinals drafted Roberto Gomez (24th round, 736th overall) and the New York Mets selected Tim Haines (27th round, 824th overall).
 
Knight is the first Bronc to ever be selected by the Giants.
 
Knight is looking to become the fifth Bronc to ever make it to the major leagues as a player. Four have done it previously, including George Williams, who played for the Oakland A's from 1995-97 and the San Diego Padres in 2000, catcher Dan Firova, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1981-82 and the Cleveland Indians in 1988, infielder Wayne Tyrone, who played for the Chicago Cubs in 1978, and outfielder Jim Tyrone, who played for the Cubs in 1972, 1974 and 1975 as well as the A's in 1977.
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