UK's Maile picked by Tampa Bay Rays

LEXINGTON, Ky. - University of Kentucky junior catcher Luke Maile – a 2012 All-Southeastern Conference selection – was picked in the eighth round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Maile, a native of Crestview Hills, Ky. and a 2009 graduate of Covington Catholic High School, was chosen No. 272 overall, a release issued by the university’s athletic department said.

A 6-foot-3, 220-pound catcher, Maile has had a decorated three-year career for the Wildcats since arriving on campus as the Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball at out Covington Catholic High School. Maile led UK to its best season in the history of the program in 2012, with UK winning a record 45 games and finishing a game out of the regular-season SEC Championship.

As a second-team All-SEC catcher in 2012, Maile hit .319 (73-for-229) with 13 doubles, 12 homers and 51 RBI, owning a .533 slugging and a .426 on-base percentage. Maile owned a 34-35 walk-strikeout ratio and stole nine of 11 bases. Defensively, Maile helped lead UK to the fewest stolen bases against and the most pickoffs in the SEC, throwing out 10 of 18 would-be base steals and a staggering eight of 11 would-be base stealers in league action.

In his career, Maile owns a .295 average (130-for-441) with 23 doubles, three triples, 24 homers and 93 RBI, stealing 17-of-21 bases.