After selecting possibly the best infielder available in the draft, in Grant Green during round one, Oakland took southpaw Justin Marks, from the University of Louisville in the 3rd round (their second pick).

Marks went 11-3 this season for the Cards, to accompany his 3.77 ERA, and one complete game.  He struck out 129 in just 105 innings, and started 16 of the 18 games he appeared in.

Perhaps the most spectacular statistical note is he lead all Louisville pitchers, whether they pitched one inning or 105 as in Marks case, is he is the only pitcher to have opposing hitters hitting under .229.  His .227 average is the best, on a team where .261 was average.

Of the 379 batters he faced, only 86 got hits, and 45 reached base via a walk or Hit-By-Pitch.

Marks is from Owensboro, Kentucky, where he attended Owensboro Catholic High School.  Standing at 6′3, 195, he was the Pre-season Big East Pitcher of the Year, and was the Big East Freshman of the Year in 2007, the same year he received the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

Previously drafted by the Red Sox in 2006, Marks delivered biggest when his club needed it the most, as he was named the Big East Player of the Week last month, during a series that clinched the Big East season title.  Marks pitched 7.2 innings, allowing no runs on four hits.  He struck out 12 batters, and was the pitcher his club needed on that day, helping them clinch the title.

His Cardinals have since been eliminated from the College World Series Super Regionals, last weekend in fact, as they went down to Cal State Fullerton.  In their last game of the post-season, Marks went 4 and a third, scattering 7 hits and 3 walks, and gave up 6 earned runs.  He struck out 4, and had a balk on 89 pitches.

Let’s hope if he signs, he can pitch like money[ball].