Cranston Picked in 34th Round

Lincoln ? University of Nebraska pitcher Jared Cranston became the third Husker pitcher selected in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, as he was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 34th round (No. 1,016 overall).

Wednesday’s selection marked the second time that Cranston was drafted, as he was also selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 46th round following his sophomore season at Seward County (Kan.) Community College.

Cranston was one of the Huskers’ top relievers in 2006, going 2-0 with a 6.46 ERA in 21 appearances. He was second on the team with five holds and allowed just six of 21 inherited runners to score. The left-hander from Colby, Kan., earned wins against Super Regional qualifier Missouri and Arizona also turned in strong showings against No. 1 Rice, tossing 1.1 innings of no-hit ball, and against nationally ranked North Carolina State, where he struck out both batters he faced in a 4-3 victory.

In 2005, he earned first-team Jayhawk West All-Conference honors in 2005 at Seward County CC after posting a 6-2 record with a save and a 2.68 ERA, as he ranked fourth nationally among junior college pitchers with 101 strikeouts over 77.1 innings.

With Cranston’s selection, it gives the Huskers a total of eight players picked in the MLB Draft, matching the 2001 team for the second highest number of draftees in one season. NU’s school record for baseball draftees in one season is nine, set in 1983.

Year ERA W-L App GS CG SHO/CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2006.... 6.46 2-0 21 0 0 0/0 0 15.1 24 14 11 15 15 TOTAL... 6.46 2-0 21 0 0 0/0 0 15.1 24 14 11 15 15