Los Angeles Dodgers Press Release
San Francisco, CA -- Academy of Art University Baseball celebrated another milestone on Tuesday when senior infielder
Zach Babitt was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, becoming the first Urban Knight to be drafted in the program's four years of existence. After playing only two seasons with the Urban Knights, Babitt compiled a hefty list of ART U records that caught the eye of the front office in the second-oldest franchise on the West Coast, and the current leaders of the National League West.
"It felt amazing to be drafted," said Babitt. "Words couldn't describe what I felt when I got the call. I feel like my time at ART U has prepared me for the next level and I am ready to step up to the challenge of competing professionally."
Babitt,
a 2011 All-PacWest First Team selection, starred in his senior season for Academy of Art, leading the team in many offensive categories. Batting anywhere in the top three spots in the order, Zach ended the year with a .313 batting average and a .403 on-base percentage. He also led the team with 18 multi-hit games, 24 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases. Babitt started every game this year for the Urban Knights, making 38 starts at second base and 12 at shortstop. He also set the record for hits in a single season with 53, and totaled 102 hits in only two years with the Knights, good for second in program history.
“In the future, when people ask me why would you have athletics at an art institution, my reply will be '
Zach Babitt,'" said Director of Athletics Dr. Jamie Williams. "The fact that he was drafted recently in the 10th round by the L.A. Dodgers, while being a superb broadcast student is the answer. I couldn't be more happy for a kid who works so hard on the field and in the classroom. Zach's on his way of becoming the first Urban Knight to turn pro and graduate!”
Babitt definitely comes from a baseball pedigree, as his father Shooty Babitt spent seven years in the Athletics organization before moving on to be a scout for both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Mets. Currently the patriarch of the family is also the host of A's Pregame Live and A's Postgame Live on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Zach's younger brother
Myles Babitt, a freshman, also played for the Urban Knights baseball team, spending time in the outfield and on the mound.
"We are excited as a staff and at Academy of Art University for Zach," head coach Brian Guinn said. "I feel it is important our players get the best training possible and a great education on top of it. It is really rewarding to see one of our players get drafted."
