By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Corey Kemp’s vacation to Hilton Head looks like it will be cut a bit short, but that’s just fine with him.
Kemp, East Carolina’s catcher, was selected in the 14th round with the 428th overall pick in the Major League Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. The affable ECU senior said he found out about the selection while talking with teammate and roommate, Ryan Wood.
The Franklin, Tenn., native said he’ll be able to relax now knowing where he’s headed.
Kemp, the Conference USA Player of the Year, led the Pirates with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs. The home run total is tied for eighth all-time in a single season by a Pirate, while the RBI total ranks third best all-time.
He also hit .341, which ranked fourth highest on the team.
Kemp said the team took precedent over any of his personal accomplishments.
A co-captain with ECU this year, Kemp said he was surprised to be drafted so high.
Kemp said he’s excited to play with the Brewers.
Kemp said he was awaiting a follow-up phone call from a Brewers’ scout to tell him where and when he’d be going. Milwaukee’s minor league affiliates include the Arizona Brewers, the Helena (Mt.) Brewers, both rookie league teams, and Class A teams the Brevard County (Viera, Fla.) Manatees and the West Virginia (Charleston, W.V) Power.
Senior pitcher T.J. Hose, a co-captain with Kemp, was selected in the 36th round with the 1,098th pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hose went 7-4 with a 4.46 ERA, striking out 72 and walking 39 in 80 2-3 innings of work.
His last game as a Pirate was a beauty as Hose pitched a complete-game, four-hit shutout in a 9-0 win over Columbia in the NCAA Conway Regional. Hose, who struck out seven and walked one in the game, retired 17 straight at one point.
Junior second baseman Ryan Wood was picked up by the Brewers in the 42nd round with the 1.268th pick. Wood finished his junior campaign with 13 homers, 51 RBIs and a .306 batting average.
Junior right-handed pitcher Justin Bristow was the only Pirate selected on the first day of the MLB Draft. Bristow was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round with the 161st overall pick.