BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Junior pitcher Adam Bullard was selected in the 43rd round (1,300th overall pick) Friday by the Atlanta Braves in the Major League Baseball Draft.

The Mauldin, S.C., native (Mauldin HS / Spartanburg Methodist) is the first Gardner-Webb player drafted by a major league organization since ace Zach Ward went to the Cincinnati Reds in the third round of the 2005 MLB Draft (90th pick overall). Catcher Blake Lalli was expected to be drafted in 2006, but signed a pre-draft deal with the Chicago Cubs as a fifth-year senior instead.

Bullard, a hard-throwing righty, went 2-5 with two saves and a 4.53 ERA in 57.2 innings of work for the Diamond ‘Dogs in 2008, fanning 44 batters and allowing just a .265 batting average in 25 appearances (three starts).

The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder boasts a fastball that sits in the low 90s and topped out at 96 mph during his junior season, drawing attention from a host of major league scouts.

Bullard is in the midst of his planned stint in the Coastal Plains League – an NCAA-sanctioned college summer league that uses wooden bats – pitching in a closer’s role for the nearby Forest City Owls. He has performed well, notching two saves, a 0.00 ERA and just one hit allowed in three appearances.

Bullard will have one season of eligibility remaining at Gardner-Webb should he choose to return to the Diamond ‘Dogs, which remains a strong a possibility.

He is the fourth player drafted from Gardner-Webb under current head coach Rusty Stroupe, joining Sam Bradford (Mariners, 20th round, 2003), Jeff Long (Braves, 10th round, 2004) and Ward (Reds, 3rd round, 2005).