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SALT LAKE CITY - The Boston Red Sox selected University of Utah junior right-hander Stephen Fife in the third round of Major League Baseball's amateur draft this afternoon, taking him with the 85th pick overall. Fife will forego his senior season to play professionally.
Fife was the second selection from the Mountain West Conference. Only TCU's reliever, Andrew Cashner, went ahead of Fife. Overall, Fife was the 29th right-handed pitcher picked up in the draft.
"This is a dream come true!" said Fife after the selection. "I'm here in Boise with my friends and family, and we all just exploded with excitement when I found out that the Boston Red Sox picked me."
Fife, who was ranked 57th among Baseball America's top 100 prospects, was Utah's ace on the mound last season. He won first team all-conference accolades in leading Utah with 78 strikeouts (to 29 walks), and he recorded an earned-run average of 3.72. Fife went 7-5 on the year as opponents hit a scant .252 against the Boise, Idaho native.
"I'm really excited for Stephen," said Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg. "It's a great honor and he's worked very hard to earn it. I couldn't be happier for him, and I know he's excited for this opportunity."
Fife led the Utes in strikeouts, innings pitched (92.0), complete games (two) and was one of two Utah hurlers to record a shutout this year.
The Red Sox are no strangers to up-and-coming players from Utah. They drafted Ute infielder Ryan Khoury in the 12th round of the 2006 amateur draft. In his third season in the system, Khoury is currently playing for double-A Portland where he has already appeared in 47 games this year.
