Report by LBSU

Senior pitcher Tyler Topp became the fourth Long Beach State player picked in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday when he was drafted in the 35th round by the Florida Marlins.  

Topp, who was the 1,058th player picked, joined three other Dirtbag pitchers—Charlie Ruiz, Adam Wilk and David Born—who were selected on Wednesday.  The selection of four LBSU players in the MLB Draft marked the ninth straight season that at least three Dirtbags have been drafted in the same draft.

Topp joined the Dirtbag program in 2008, transferring from Riverside Community College. Over the last two seasons, Topp started 12 games on the mound, including the 2009 opener against USC, where he struck out three batters. In 2008 Topp made five consecutive Tuesday starts, earning his first collegiate win against San Diego State, allowing no earned runs and striking out three over five innings. In 2009, he set a season high against UC Santa Barbara, striking out four over two and a third.

The four draft picks bring the number of Dirtbags drafted in the Mike Weathers era to 50. Twelve of those players have reached the majors and eight former Dirtbags are currently playing in the big leagues.