Kurt Steinhauer and Kaohi Downing Taken in the MLB Draft

Kurt Steinhauer

Kaohi Downing

June 11 - Senior Kurt Steinhauer was selected in the 27th round by the New York Mets in the 2009 Major League Baseball Amateur draft on Wednesday. On Thursday it was Kaohi Downing getting the call from the San Francisco Giants.

Steinhauer was the 824th overall pick in the 50 round draft that began on Tuesday and concludes Thursday. The 6-1, right handed player from Palos Verde hit .379, blasted a school-record 19 homers and drove in 52 during the 2009 campaign. He also earned Rawlings Gold Glove honors for his excellent defense in center field.

Downing was taken in the 50th round, the 1497th overall pick. The senior played the majority of his collegiate career as a right fielder but the Giants named Downing as a pitcher.

A four-year starter, Downing is the all-time career runs scored leader at Point Loma. A Golden Glove recipient as an outfielder in 2008, last season he hit .325 with 54 runs scored, 13 doubles, 12 homeruns, 45 RBI and 29 stolen bases.

Blessed with a strong arm Downing, from Honolulu, HI, can reach into the 90s with his fastball. He toed the rubber twice for PLNU in 2009, with mixed results. In his first appearance he fanned all three batters he faced. In his second he allowed four earned runs.

The two were key members of the PLNU's Golden State Athletic Conference championship club that finished second at the NAIA World Series.

Steinhauer and Downing are the 23rd and 24th Point Loma players tabbed in the amateur baseball draft since its inception in 1965.