UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (June 8, 2004) - Penn State senior right-handers Clayton Hamilton (Beaver Falls, Pa.) and Aaron Tressler (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa.) were both selected during the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft held on Monday and Tuesday. Hamilton and Tressler become the 49th and 50th Penn State baseball players, respectively, to be selected in the draft. Hamilton was taken by the San Diego Padres with the first pick in the 17th round. His selection comes one year after being taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 21st round.

Hamilton was 4-5 for Penn State during his senior season with 49 strikeouts and a 5.75 ERA in 56.1 innings of work. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after tossing a three-hit, nine-inning complete game shutout on May 2nd at Illinois. Hamilton will report to San Diego's spring training complex in Phoenix, Ariz. before being assigned to a team.

"I think it's going to be a great opportunity for me," Hamilton said. "I kind of wanted to go out west if possible. It's every player's goal to make it to the next level. I had a great time at Penn State and met some great friends. It worked out for me and I'm happy with what happenend."

Tressler, a hometown product out of State College High School, was taken in the 32nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Tressler finished his Nittany Lion career fifth on the all-time appearances list with 59. He is also fifth in starts (37) and seventh in innings pitched (249.2). He was 4-4 during an outstanding senior campaign with 58 strikeouts and a 4.19 ERA in 68.2 innings. He pithed two complete games, including a one-hitter in a win versus Iowa on April 24th that made Penn State head coach Joe Hindelang the all-time winningest coach in school history.

"(Being drafted) is great," Tressler said. "I can't believe it. I don't think it's hit me yet. All I've ever wanted was an opportunity to play professionally and now I'm going to make the best of it.

"It's been a great four years for me at Penn State. It's been the best four years of my life. I've met some great friends and I loved playing baseball here. I'm going to miss it a lot." Tressler will report to Toronto's spring training site in Dunedin, Fla. for a mini-camp before being assigned to his Minor League team.