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June 8, 2004

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts sophomore catcher Frank Curreri (Weymouth, Mass.) was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 41st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft this afternoon. The Diamondbacks took Curreri with the 1,226 pick overall.

Curreri, a second-team All-Atlantic 10 and first-team All-New England selection, reached base in 41 of UMass' 45 games during the 2004 season, including each of the last 26 consecutive contests. The lefthanded hitter started every UMass contest and finished the year with a team-leading .380 batting average, 54 RBI, a .464 on-base percentage and a .614 slugging percentage. Playing with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League this summer, Curreri also tied for the team-lead with seven home runs, and led the squad with 23 extra base hits including 16 doubles. His RBI total ranks as the fifth-highest single season figure in school history, as do his 16 doubles. Curreri also participated in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-Star Game on May 30 at Fenway Park.

For his collegiate career, Curreri has a .363 batting average including 98 hits in just 82 games. He has totaled 36 extra-base hits thus far including 24 doubles and 10 home runs. Curreri has also totaled 81 RBI and 39 walks while striking out just 32 times in 270 at bats. He has also stolen eight bases.

If Curreri signs, he will become the 31st Minuteman to sign a professional contract during head coach Mike Stone's 17-year tenure as head coach at UMass, a list that includes Gary DiSarcina, Chad Paronto and Ron Villone.

UMass baseball went 19-26 this past season and finished in fourth-place of the Atlantic 10 East Division.