KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Park University second baseman Darian Sandford was selected in the 47th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals, who used overall pick No. 1,409 on the Pirates' all-time leader in stolen bases.

Sandford, who is listed by the Royals as a center fielder, stole 99 bases in his two seasons at Park, including 56 in the 2010 season, leading the NAIA in both stolen bases and stolen bases per game in the 2010 season. A St. Louis, Mo., native, Sandford hit .366 for Park in 2010 and posted a .434 on-base percentage, making good on 56 of his 66 stolen-base attempts while scoring 42 runs. In his career, he was 99-of-119 on the bases, establishing the new Park University stolen bases record by 53 steals over RJ Nab's second-best career total of 46.

Sandford played both in the outfield and at second base as a junior in 2009, hitting .388 in 45 games, starting in 43 and stealing 43 bases. He moved to the infield full-time for the 2010 season, starting at second base in all 45 games.

In 2010, he had six doubles, three triples and hit his only home run in a Pirate uniform, and in 2009, Sandford belted eight doubles and tripled twice.

In addition to his spot atop the Park University record book for stolen bases, Sandford is also fifth in single-season runs with 50 in the 2009 season, fifth in career runs with 92, second in career triples with five and eighth in career hits with 110.

Sandford was an all-conference performer in both the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (2009) and American Midwest Conference (2010), and at the conclusion of the 2010 season, Sandford was named to the 2010 Rawlings-American Midwest Conference Gold Glove Team at second base.

"I'm proud of the way Darian has matured and worked for this opportunity over the last two years," said head baseball coach Cary Lundy. "He is one of the fastest players in the draft, probably, and he has the tools to succeed in the Royals' organization.

"I really look forward to seeing what he can do in their system. It's big for our program to now have another player drafted and get the opportunity to succeed at the next level. It's also great that the Kansas City Royals gave a local kid a chance, because Darian has worked hard to deserve this opportunity."

Sandford is the second player in Park University's baseball program history to be drafted by a Major League Baseball franchise, following right-handed pitcher Josh Hake, who was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 1,498th pick in the 50th and final round of the 2008 draft.

Park University sports information will continue to follow Sandford's progress in the Royals' minor league system, and throughout the year, updates will be posted at www.parkathletics.com, along with updates on other former Pirates who are currently playing professionally.