June 4, 2002
Chicago, Ill. - University of Illinois at Chicago junior outfielder Curtis Granderson (Lynwood, Ill./T.F. South) became the first player from the state of Illinois to be picked in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft as the Detroit Tigers tabbed him with the 80th pick overall on Tuesday.
"We were very happy to select Curtis Granderson," said Tigers Director of Scouting and Player Development Greg Smith. "He's been among the nation's leaders in hitting and is a good athlete with a lot of upside."
Granderson, who finished the season with the second-best batting average in the nation at .483, played a key role in UIC's success this season as the Flames' finished the season with a school-record 39 victories.
"I never expected this," Granderson said. "At the beginning it was a struggle, then I started to think about it, then I had to block it out and now it is a reality.
"I'm very happy that it all happened."
Granderson, the Horizon League Most Valuable Player, set school single-season records in several different categories including: batting average (.483), hits (100), runs scored (76). He also broke the career record for runs scored with 178.
UIC head coach Mike Dee has seen 34 of his former players go on to professional careers and three of those players; Denny Neagle, Kerry Ligtenberg and Jim Brower are currently on Major League rosters.
"Curtis has a lot of the same characteristics as those guys, with his physical ability and his extraordinary work ethic," Dee said. "He has made himself into the player he is today, whether it's working in the weight room, changing his swing or his approach to the game."
"I'm excited for Curtis," Dee continued. "If he stays healthy and continues on the path he's on, inevitably, he's going to have a great career."
He is currently tied for fifth in UIC history with a career-batting average of .350; fourth in hits (220); tied for fourth in RBI with 125; second in doubles (41); third in triples (9); second in home runs (24); fifth in walks (107) and fourth in at-bats (624).
