June 29, 2007

Former George Mason pitcher J.J. Pannell, drafted in the 38th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft earlier this month has signed a professional contract with the San Francisco Giants and he began his professional career on Thursday night. Pannell, a redshirt junior for the Patriots in 2007, was the third Patriot to be drafted and sign to play professional baseball off of last season's squad.

Pannell is top 20 all-time at Mason in appearances, wins, winning percentage, strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings and fewest walks per nine innings. This past season he led the team in wins, starts, innings pitched and strikeouts and he was 7-4 with 58 strikeouts in 91 innings over 14 starts.

Currently with the Arizona League Giants, Pannell pitched a scoreless inning on Thursday. He came on in relief to start the seventh inning, allowed a leadoff single, than retired the side, including a pair of strikeouts. Chris Fournier, drafted in the 16th round earlier this month by the New York Mets, is hitting .250 for the Brooklyn Cyclones while playing the outfield. Jason Bour, drafted in the 23rd round by the Cincinnati Reds, has played in four games as catcher with two doubles and two RBI in 18 at-bats.

One other Mason player currently in the minors, Robby Jacobsen, is currently playing for the Hagerstown Suns. The 22nd round pick by the Washington Nationals in last year's draft hit his first professional home run earlier this month. He currently has a .610 OPS in nine games at first base.