Paul Cusick drafted by Phillies

After a stellar senior Ivy season, pitcher Paul Cusick was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 29th round of the MLB Draft today.

Cusick was the Ivy League Pitcher of the Year after notching five wins and a 2.70 ERA. He threw 80 strikeouts in 66.2 innings. His numbers were even more impressive during Ivy play in the second half of the season. He was the 901st player picked in the 2011 draft.

"It is surreal," Cusick told Penn Athletics. "I was home watching the Phillies game with my family and we had the computer up as well with the Draft on. We heard my name called and all looked at each other in amazement and we were all just so happy."

According to Penn Athletics, Cusick grew up a Phillies fan in Wilmington, Del.

You can listen to Cusick talking to local radio station KYW here.

He is the first Quaker selected from the draft since 2004. The most recent and notable Penn players to make the majors are Mark DeRosa, who won a World Series ring with the San Francisco Giants last year, and Doug Glanville, who played for the Phillies as well.

Here's a list from Penn's announcement of recent Quakers to get their name called in the draft:

Recent Penn Players Drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft: 2011 - Paul Cusick (Philadelphia Phillies) 29th Round 2004 - Brian Winnings (Cleveland Indians) 48th Round 2003 - Ben Krantz (Arizona Diamondbacks) 15th Round 2003 - Russ Brocato (Baltimore Orioles) 29th Round 2003 - Andrew McCreery (Arizona Diamondbacks) 32nd Round 1996 - Mark DeRosa (Atlanta Braves) 7th Round 1991 - Doug Glanville (Chicago Cubs) 1st Round