June 6, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois junior right-handed pitcher Scott Shaw (Gurnee, Ill.) was selected by the New York Mets in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday, becoming the second Illini player drafted in 2008 along with Kyle Hudson, who went to the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round. In addition, incoming freshman Willie Argo (Davenport, Iowa / Assumption HS) was picked by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 49th round with the 1,473rd overall selection.

"It's been a dream all my life and I couldn't be happier," Shaw said. "The Mets are a great organization and I couldn't ask for a better club to be with."

Shaw, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound starting pitcher, went 4-4 with a 7.83 ERA in 2007, making 11 starts and tossing two complete games. He struck out 48 batters in 56 1/3 innings and walked only 24 batters, which ranked seventh in the Big Ten. In conference games, he gave up only 38 hits, which ranked third.

Shaw has been pitching for the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League this summer, where he ranks second in the league with 18 strikeouts. He has been solid in 13 innings over two starts, allowing just seven hits and four runs while walking three for an opponent batting average of .156.

Argo was a four-sport athlete in high school, earning All-State honors in baseball, football, wrestling and track. He led Assumption H.S. to a state baseball championship in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2007, hitting .481 and .508, respectively. In all, he earned 13 varsity letters, placed third at the Iowa state wrestling championships in both 2006 and 2007, and finished sixth in the 100 meters at the Iowa state track and field meet in 2007.

Three of Argo's classmates also were honored Friday, as incoming freshmen Bryan Roberts (Lisle, Ill. / Benet Academy), Will Strack (Sycamore, Ill. / Sycamore) and Adam Davis (Addison, Ill. / Driscoll) were named to the Chicago Tribune's All-State team. Roberts, a right-handed pitcher, earned first-team honors, Strack, who will pitch for the Illini, was honored as an outfielder on the All-State second team, and Davis, a catcher, was a special mention All-State honoree.