Pittsburgh Standout Joe Lydic Drafted by the Houston Astros
6/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Pittsburgh Standout Joe Lydic Drafted by the Houston Astros
6/5/2000
PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh third baseman Joe Lydic was selected in the seventh round by the Houston Astros in the 2000 Major League Baseball first-year player draft today in New York. The junior was the 217th pick overall and is the highest drafted Panther since Chris Jelic was chosen in the second round by the Kansas City Royals in 1985.
"I am very excited," said Lydic. "This is the first step in acheiving my dream of playing in the Major Leagues. It is truly an honor to be selected."
"I am extremely happy for Joe," said Pittsburgh Head Coach Joe Jordano. "This is a great tribute to his outstanding work ethic. Whether he chooses to sign a professional contract or complete his collegiate career, I wish him the best. He truly deserves it."
A native of Bethel Park, Pa., Lydic was named to the All-Big East Conference Second Team after helping Pittsburgh to its first conference tournament berth since 1995. He led the Panthers in batting average for most of the season and concluded the year second on the team at .340. Lydic scored 57 runs to lead the Panthers and set a new single-season school record, breaking his own mark of 53 set last year. He is currently 15th (tied) in the NCAA with a Pittsburgh record 19 home runs on the year, including nine against Big East opponents, setting another single-season Pittsburgh mark for the second-straight year. Lydic has 33 career home runs in just two seasons, tying the school record held by former Panther Steve Dickinson, who needed four years to accomplish the feat.
Additionally, Lydic led the Panthers in hits (71), runs batted in (49), total bases (143) and slugging percentage (.684), while also leading the conference in home runs, total bases and slugging percentage. He finished second on the team in stolen bases, stealing a perfect 12 of 12 for a career high. A consistent hitter, Lydic acheived a team season-best (tied) eight-game hitting streak during at mid-season, and accounted for 13 doubles.
Lydic was honored as the Big East's Co-Player of the Week on April 17 after powering the Panthers to two wins over Connecticut with three home runs. In that series, he hit .500, while combining for seven runs and nine RBI to go with the three homers.
Pittsburgh completed the year with a record of 31-24, it's fourth 30-plus win season in school history. The Panthers finished in sixth place in the Big East.
