Outfielder Tyler Townsend was drafted in the third round (85th overall) of the 2009 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Baltimore Orioles on June 9.

Although he has not worked out a contract agreement, Townsend said he will not return to play for the Golden Panthers next season and will sign the minor league contract.

"I'm a 100 percent sure that I will sign with the Baltimore Orioles," Townsend said in a phone interview with Student Media on June 10.

Townsend first found out he was drafted around 10:30 p.m. when he saw it on his computer. Shortly after, he received a call from a Baltimore Orioles representative, who congratulated and welcomed him to the organization.

"I was in sort of disbelief, then reality hit me," Townsend said.

He was with his mother and father, but his two sisters left the house before the announcement was made. Unfortunately for Townsend, his grandfather, who was a big influence in his baseball career and was a player in the Cubs organization, passed away a few years ago.

"I know he would've been very proud of me yesterday," he said.

Following the call from the Baltimore Orioles, head coach Turtle Thomas called the 21-year-old, who was drafted as a first baseman.

"He told me congrats, that I deserved it," Townsend said.

But coach Thomas did not mention or ask his star player to return to the 2010 squad.

"No, he's been around long enough to know when a player is going to sign. I don't think he thought I was coming back," Townsend said.

Townsend was rumored to be drafted in the first ten rounds. He will now be part of the Baltimore Orioles minor league farm system and hope to work his way up from Single-A to Triple-AAA and eventually the major leagues.

He is the school's all-time leader in RBI and second all-time in home runs with 43. The junior played three seasons with the Golden Panthers, and he hit .426 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI last season.

Townsend must decide the terms and money of the minor league contract; the deadline to sign is Aug. 15.

"I'm trying to get the numbers worked out," Townsend said. "I'll take what's fair. It depends on what other people have gotten."