SEARCY – Harding University senior third baseman Jason Nappi became the third Bison baseball player in program history to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Angels drafted Nappi in the 42nd round with the 1,275th overall pick.

Nappi, a native of Birmingham, Ala., earned All-South Region and All-Gulf South Conference honors as a senior. He led the team with a .384 batting average, nine home runs and 54 runs batted in.

Nappi is the first Harding position player ever to be drafted. Right-handed pitcher Tim Lacefield was selected in the 30th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997, and right-handed pitcher Bob McKeel was selected in the 62nd round by the Kansas City Royals in 1969.

Harding's only former major league player was pitcher Preacher Roe, who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brooklyn Dodgers from 1938-54. Several Bisons have signed free agent contracts with major league teams and played in the minor leagues. The most recent of those was left-handed pitcher Justin Phillips, who signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2007 and played in the minor leagues through last season.

Nappi said that Angels scout Kenneth Brown, an area scout whose territory includes Birmingham, called him Wednesday to tell him he had been drafted by Los Angeles. The two will meet Friday in Birmingham to work on contract details. After Nappi signs his contract, the Angels will assign him to one of their minor league teams, possibly their short-season Class A team in Orem, Utah.