Nats grab Delaware slugger Yezzo in seventh

The Nationals continued Day 2 of the First-Year Player Draft on Friday by selecting first baseman James Yezzo, a junior at the University of Delaware, in the seventh round, No. 226 overall.

Yezzo was named the 2013 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Player of the Year after what Delaware head coach Jim Sherman called "one of the greatest single seasons in the last 20 years of Delaware baseball." Yezzo hit .410 with 28 doubles, 13 home runs and 64 RBIs in 55 games. He was also named a Louisville Slugger First-Team All-American.

"He's got tremendous power. Very polished," Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel Roy Clark said. "He's going to stay at first base. He had a great year, make no mistake."

The 6-foot, 200-pound slugger led the CAA in six statistical categories, including hits (96), total bases (167) and slugging percentage (.714). He helped lead the Blue Hens to a 33-23 record and a berth in the CAA Tournament.

Yezzo is the first Blue Hen to be selected in the first 10 rounds of the Draft since 2008.