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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
CJ Chatham Drafted in Second Round by Red Sox
6/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 9, 2016
BOCA RATON, Fla. â€" Florida Atlantic University shortstop CJ Chatham was selected as the 51st overall pick in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. With the selection, Chatham became the highest draft pick in FAU history.
Undrafted out of high school, Chatham was the first collegiate shortstop and the first Conference USA player taken in this year's draft. Jeff Fiorentino was FAU's previous highest-drafted player as a third-round selection in the 2004 draft.
"It feels unbelievable," Chatham said. "I can't thank my team and coaches enough. I told [Coach McCormack] I wanted to be a high pick and he said 'make it happen'. To be labeled the highest pick in FAU history is pretty awesome. [Fiorentino] told me he hoped I would be and he helped me out a lot last year."
The junior is one of the most decorated players in program history, earning Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Louisville Slugger All-American and Baseball America All-American honors. The two-time First Team All-Conference USA standout was named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award â€" honoring the best amateur baseball player in the country â€" and the Brooks Wallace Award, which recognizes the nation's top shortstop, to be named in July.
"I am so excited for CJ and his family," FAU Head Coach John McCormack said. "This is a well deserved honor. He is a fantastic player and great person. I look forward to watching him as he makes his way through the Red Sox system."
Chatham guided the Owls to their first Conference USA Championship with a .357 average, 50 RBI, 48 runs, 17 doubles, four triples and eight home runs. The Fort Lauderdale native led Conference USA with 89 hits, starting all 58 of FAU's games. Chatham ranks in the top-10 all-time at FAU with 226 career hits, 119 runs, 50 doubles, seven triples and 419 assists. He ranked No. 20 nationally in hits through the NCAA Regionals and led FAU to a No. 14 rank in double plays, contributing on 47 of FAU's 59 double plays turned.
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