FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Fairfield University graduate Rob Gariano (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 36th Round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday. Gariano graduated in May as the program's all-time strikeouts leader.
The right hander finished his career with 293 strikeouts, breaking a 31-year-old school record. He also broke the career innings pitched mark with 323.1. The two-time First Team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) selection also finished third all-time wins (17), tied for seventh in complete games (12), and alone in seventh in appearances (52).
Gariano was named the MAAC Pitcher of the Week seven times during his career, and earned Preseason All-MAAC honors in 2010. He went notched four wins in his senior campaign, all complete-games, had a 4.29 ERA with 74 strikeouts, good for second in the league. He threw several one-hitters during his time at Fairfield, including the one-hit complete game shutout against Saint Peter's in which he a career-best 15 batters as a junior.
In the summer of 2009, Gariano became just the second pitcher in program history to play in the Cape Cod League. He spent the season with the Harwich Mariners, where he earned Pitcher of the Week honors.
Gariano is the first Fairfield player to be drafted since 2001 when pitcher Ryan Holsten was taken in the 22nd Round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Fairfield finished the 2010 campaign with an 18-32 overall record and an 8-16 MAAC record.