June 8, 2010

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - University of Illinois incoming freshman shortstop Reid Roper was selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday, being drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 29th round with the No. 884 overall selection.

Roper recently finished a banner senior season in which he led Harrisburg High School to a second-place finish at the IHSA Class 2A state tournament. The Bulldogs won their first 40 games of the season before falling to Teutopolis in the state title game, tying a state record for consecutive wins in a season. He pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the state semifinal game against Illinois Valley Central, finishing the season 12-0 on the mound with a 0.84 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. At the plate, he hit .504 with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs and a team-high 59 runs.