TicketsJune 10, 2009
University of Cincinnati senior Mike Spina (Newberry, Fla./Newberry) and junior Lance Durham (Forest Park, Ohio/Roger Bacon) were selected by the Oakland A's and the Toronto Blue Jays, respectively, on Day 2 of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Spina, who returned for his senior season after being drafted in the 45th round by the Minnesota Twins in 2008, was drafted with the 12th pick in the 11th round (pick 333) by the A's, while Durham was selected with the 19th pick in the 14th round (pick 430) by the Blue Jays.
Spina and Durham both were second-team all-BIG EAST selections this season, while Durham was a Pro-Line Athletic/NCBWA Third-Team All-America honoree.
In just two seasons at UC, Spina cemented himself as one of the top hitters in Bearcats history. After breaking UC's single-season home run record and tying the program's single-season RBI record with 21 home runs and 79 RBI in 2008, Spina drove in 69 runs and broke his own single-season home runs record with 23 in 2009. Additionally, Spina hit .342 this season and finished with a .675 slugging percentage.
Spina finished his career ranking in the program's Top 10 in several statistical categories, including slugging percentage (1st, .703), home runs (3rd, 44), batting average (4th, .359), on-base percentage (4th, .443), RBI (6th, 148), and sacrifice flies (T-6th, 10).
In his first season with the Bearcats, Durham had one of the top hitting seasons in UC history. Durham hit .427 on the season, breaking UC's single-season batting average record of .413 set in 1993 by Mark Gabbard. He also recorded a single-season best 99 hits, breaking Kevin Youkilis' single-season mark of 96 set in 1999. Durham finished second on the team with nine round-trippers and 53 RBI.