Liberty pitcher David Stokes has been selected in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball Draft this afternoon by the Detroit Tigers.

Stokes, who this spring completed his final season with the Flames, becomes the 38th player in Liberty history to be taken in the MLB draft and the first to be drafted by the Tigers organization.
This past season, the right-hander was selected as a member of the 2008 Big South All-Conference second team. Stokes posted an 8-6 record with a 3.60 ERA in 100 innings of work. The senior finished in 10th in the Big South Conference in ERA. The Claremore, Okla., native led the Big South in innings pitched and games started. In 15 starts, Stokes struck out 86 batters and walked only 16. He tied for second in the conference in both strikeouts and wins, while ranking 30th in the country in fewest walks per nine innings (1.40). His strikeouts total helped the Liberty pitching staff set a new school record for punchouts in a season with 508.

Stokes pitched two complete games for the Flames in 2008 and was named the Big South Pitcher of the Week for April 24. He also garnered InsidePitching.com's Southeast Region Performance of the Week Award and was one of College Baseball Blog and StatsStud.com's Players of the Week for April 24.

Earlier in the afternoon, Liberty left-hander Ryan Page was taken in the 20th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Flames have had a player taken in every MLB Draft since 2000.