Lemmerman taken in fifth round of draft

After 1,525 players were chosen, the 2010 First-Year Player Draft came to an end Wednesday with four Blue Devils now in the professional ranks.

Junior Jake Lemmerman went first Tuesday, becoming Duke’s highest drafted player since 2002 after the Los Angeles Dodgers took the shortstop with the 172nd overall pick in the fifth round. Lemmerman led the Blue Devils in practically every offensive statistical category this year, batting .335 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI and a .569 slugging percentage. He was no slouch defensively, either. The senior made only three errors in 227 chances, good for a .987 fielding percentage.

Next to be drafted was senior pitcher Christopher Manno, who will begin his career in the Washington Nationals’ system. Manno, a left-handed hurler, ammassed a 13-9 career record at Duke with 217 strikeouts in 188.1 innings of work. He was taken in the 26th round.

In the 28th round, the New York Mets drafted senior utility player Jeremy Gould. Gould, who split his time between first base and on the mound, will play as a pitcher in the minors despite his .330 career batting average. Gould posted a 4.76 ERA with four strikeouts in only seven pitching appearances as a senior.

On the final day of the draft Wednesday, senior pitcher Michael Ness was picked in the 33rd round by the Houston Astros, becoming the last Blue Devil to be drafted in 2010. Ness went 9-9 during his career with six saves and a 4.58 ERA. He graduated with the third-most pitching appearances in Duke history.

Dillon Haviland, a top left-handed pitcher in next year’s class, was also drafted on the final day in the 48th round by Pittsburgh. It is unclear yet whether he will sign with the Pirates.