Padgett Drafted in Fifth Round by Florida Marlins

June 2, 1998

Clemson, SC–Clemson junior Matt Padgett was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the fifth round of the Major League Draft on Tuesday, June 2. Padgett has one year of eligibility remaining.

Padgett hit a team-best .376 as the everyday right-fielder in 1998. The Lexington, SC native also had 58 RBI and a team-best 14 home runs. Padgett’s 29 multi-hit games in 58 games in ’98 was also a team-best. He was named a first-team All-ACC outfielder, becoming the first Tiger outfielder to garner first-team honors since Shane Monahan’s selection in 1995. Last week, Padgett was named first-team All-District.

Under head coach Jack Leggett (five seasons), 22 Tigers have now been drafted, including 10 within the first five rounds. His selection also means that Clemson has had at least one player drafted for 12 straight seasons.