PHOENIX, Ari.-Former University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff baseball player Zachary Varnell has been drafted in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Varnell, a 6-2, 225 pound catcher from Pine Bluff, Arkansas had a stellar senior campaign as a member of a UAPB baseball team that set a school record in conference victories (13).
“Zach had an outstanding year behind the plate,” said UAPB head baseball coach Michael Bumpers. “He has all of the tools necessary to be successful at the professional level. We’re very excited that he will have an opportunity to continue his baseball career as a member of the Diamondbacks organization.”
Varnell now joins Jeff Squier of Mississippi Valley State and Michael Thomas of Southern University as members of the 2009 MLB Draft Class from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.