June 5, 2001

Champaign, Ill. - University of Illinois junior righthander Matt Vorwald (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the seventh round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft today. Vorwald was the first Illini to be selected in this year's draft and was the 197th player taken overall.

Vorwald, who compiled a 5-4 overall record in 2001 with a 6-22 ERA, was drafted for the second time in his career. He was also taken in the 30th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a senior in high school in 1998. In his first three years at Illinois Vorwald was both a starter and closer, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a reliever in 2000.

"I'm excited about being drafted in the seventh round and by the Minnesota Twins," Vorwald said. "It's an organization that I know really wants me as a player. They're an up and coming organization that I think will show a lot of progress in the next couple of years."

The Major League First-Year Player Draft lasts 50 rounds over two days. Rounds 1-20 are held today with 21-50 being held on Wednesday starting at noon.