Former Viking Chris Salamida Selected by Astros in MLB Draft

CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 429-9486
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Chris Salamida

Former Hudson Valley Community College pitcher/outfielder Chris Salamida was selected in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Houston Astros on Tuesday. He was the 399th player selected in the draft.

Salamida, from Watervliet, played at Hudson Valley in 2003. He was 5-2 with a 4.01 earned run average that season. He also batted .347 with three home runs and 26 RBI.

Salamida was a First Team All-SUNYAC selection for SUNY Oneonta in 2006. He finished the year 8-2 with a 1.70 earned run average. He struck out 75 batters in 79.1 innings of work.

According to the Astros web site, Salamida has a lot of upside, throwing 90, 91, 92 mph. He has good arm strength for a lefty. Described as one who "can't wait to get started," Salamida comes from a small program and will probably be brought along slowly through the system. He has a fastball, curveball and changeup and the Astros will work with him to develop a cutter.

No former Hudson Valley student-athletes have ever made it to Major League Baseball. Three former Hudson Valley student-athletes, Mark Catano, Jay Kearney and Leander Knight, have played in the NFL and several more have played in other professional baseball, football, hockey and soccer leagues.