After a standout career with the Wildcats, it is now time for junior starting pitcher Kevin Mulvey (Parlin, N.J.) to begin his career as a professional baseball player. Mulvey made Villanova history on Tuesday afternoon when the New York Mets selected him with the 62nd overall pick of the First-Year Player Draft. Mulvey was chosen in the second round, but with the Mets first pick, making him the first Villanova player to be any team's first pick in the amateur draft.

After waiting through the first round - their original top pick (No. 18) went to the Phillies as compensation for Type A free agent Billy Wagner - the Mets made Mulvey the latest college pitcher to be the team's top draft pick. The Mets have chosen a collegiate pitcher with their first selection in five of the past seven years.

"We are very happy to be able to select Kevin Mulvey with our first pick in the draft," said Mets Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Omar Minaya. "Our area scout, Scott Hunter, stayed on him and our scouting supervisor and [Director of Amateur Scouting] Rudy Terrasas kept an eye on him all spring. We were pleased to know that Kevin was still there for our selection and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the organization."

The most highly-regarded professional prospect in the Big East, Mulvey becomes the fifth Villanova player to be drafted as high as the second round. The last three second round picks from the Wildcats (Gary Scott in 1989, Mike Neill in 1991 and Brian Slocum in 2002) have all reached the major leagues.

Mulvey was the first Big East player chosen in Tuesday's draft by a margin of 87 picks, before the Chicago Cubs selected Notre Dame pitcher and football team wide receiver Jeff Samardzija 149th overall in the fourth round.

"It certainly comes as no surprise that Kevin was the first player chosen from the Big East," Villanova head coach Joe Godri said. "All the reports we heard indicated that he would be a high pick, and it was just a question of where he would go. It is very exciting to have Kevin going to the New York Mets and I couldn't be happier for him. He is a quality person and deserves all of the good things that are happening for him."

Since the inception of the Major League Baseball draft in 1965, the Wildcats have had a total of 44 different players selected by major league teams. Currently, Villanova has had at least one player chosen in each of the past five drafts since 2002. There have only been two other times in which the Wildcats had a longer streak of consecutive years with at least one draft pick. This season also marks the 25th time in the 42-year history of the draft that Villanova had a player drafted.

During his time on the Main Line, Mulvey became one of the most distinguished pitchers to wear a Villanova uniform. He was a two-time All-Big East selection and as a sophomore threw the eighth no-hitter in school history. Mulvey ends his collegiate career with 222 strikeouts, the most over three years in Villanova program history. He also ranks seventh in career innings pitched with 244.0 and is tied for 10th place in victories with 14.

In 2006, Mulvey made 14 starts and worked 92.1 innings pitched. He allowed just 91 hits while holding opposing hitters to a .254 batting average, and he compiled a sterling ratio of 88 strikeouts against just 23 walks. He led the team with a 3.61 ERA despite owning a 3-8 record. Villanova was shutout in three of his starts and scored just one run in two others.

Quotes from New York Mets Teleconference with Kevin Mulvey

New York Mets Director of Amateur Scouting Rudy Terrasas

"I give a lot of credit to area scout Scott Hunter for being on Kevin from day one. He was very excited when I gave him the phone call to let him know that we were able to select Kevin in the draft. We were very happy that Kevin was still there when we picked. I have had a chance to speak with Kevin and the first thing he indicated is that he was ecstatic to be a Met."

"We went 18 rounds into the draft today and the high point is that we took quite a bit of arms. We did a good job of getting talented arms into our system on the first day of the draft."

Kevin Mulvey

"I want to thank Mr. Minaya and everybody else who was involved in making it possible for me to be the first pick. It feels really good to be a Met."

"I knew I had a chance to get drafted out of high school, but it was a decision I made with my family that I needed to get an education and to mature physically and mentally. With the help of my coaches at Villanova I think I am a lot better off now. I am a little bit bigger, stronger and smarter, and throw harder than I did coming out of high school.

Villanova Head Coach Joe Godri

"The Mets will find out very quickly that Kevin is a great talent. He has electric stuff and we will miss him a ton at Villanova. What we are going to miss the most is the quality guy that Kevin is. He has great character and values and is the baseball version of a gym rat. I wish Kevin all the luck in the world."