ASTROS COMPLETE 2007 DRAFT

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros selected three players on the first day of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, including shortstop Derek Dietrich from St. Ignatius High School in Ohio with the club's first selection (3rd round, 111th overall pick). Other selections by the Astros in day one of the draft included right-handed pitcher Brett Eibner (The Woodlands High School, The Woodlands, Texas) in the 4th round and outfielder Collin DeLome (Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas) in the 5th round.

A 6-1, 190-pound high school senior from Parma, Ohio, Dietrich hit .435 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles, 43 RBI and 25 walks in 27 games this past season for St. Ignatius. Dietrich was named to Baseball America's High School All-American team heading into the 2007 season. In the 2007 season, he was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in Ohio. He was also an Aflac High School All-American in 2006, hitting .434 with four home runs, 14 doubles and 33 RBI as a junior.

Although the Astros selected a left-handed high school hitter with their first selection for the second consecutive year, their 2007 First-Year Player Draft as a whole might be remembered for the team's emphasis on experience. Houston used 23 of its first 30 selections on players from the collegiate ranks.

"This particular draft was deep with nice balance," Astros senior director of player personnel and scouting Paul Ricciarini said. "The depth allowed us to be very smart as to what we did. We took kids with more upside -- power arms and power bats."

From an offensive standpoint, the Astros selected four catchers and three third basemen among their first 25 choices, a priority on two positions where the organization has been thin in recent years at both the Major and Minor League levels.