KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island left-handed pitcher Nick Greenwood (Southington, Conn.) was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 14th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Greenwood was the 414th overall pick.

"It was a little nerve-racking," explained Greenwood. "We were listening to pick-after-pick online and just waiting. But its a pretty cool feeling when you hear them say your name. Its literally a dream come true - exciting, but also very humbling."

Greenwood - who paced the team with 74 strikeouts - finished his junior campaign with a 6.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio in Atlantic 10 games (42 strikeouts, seven walks) and was fourth in the conference with a .239 opposing batting average and a 3.15 ERA in league games. He turned in a team-best seven wins, including a victory over No. 25 Ohio State and a complete-game shutout over St. Bonaventure.

The Rhody southpaw and All-New England first team selection also earned A-10 All-Championship honors after giving up just two runs over eight innings of work in a 9-2 win over top-seeded Dayton. Most recently, he picked up the win in the 35th Annual New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star Game on June 4.

Greenwood was the second Ram selected in the 2009 draft as classmate Eric Smith was URI's highest-ever pick, taken 60th overall (second round).

"I was so happy for Eric last night," said Greenwood. "To hear one of my teammates' names called was exciting. We've all worked so hard to get where we are and we have an unbelievable amount of pride in this program so its nice to be able to share this excitement with my teammates."

Smith and Greenwood become the sixth and seventh, respectively, Rhode Island baseball players to be drafted since 2003. Prior to Smith, Steve Holmes was URI's former highest pick, going to the New York Mets in the fifth round (154th overall) of the 2006 Draft. In 2005, Zack Zuercher was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals (ninth round, 290th overall) while Dan Batz went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the in 2004 Draft (sixth round, 178th overall). Right-handed pitchers Reid Willett (21st Round - 613th pick, Chicago Cubs) and Jared Trout (28th Round - 842nd pick, Oakland Athletics) both were selected as juniors in 2003.

Recent Rhody graduates Zach Zaneski `08, Mike Rainville `05, and Mick Lefort `05 also signed free agent contracts with the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, respectively.

The 2009 draft continues through round 30 today and continues tomorrow starting at 12:30 p.m.