June 9, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern senior catcher Chad Noble (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall) became the second Wildcat player to be selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft when he was picked by the Chicago Cubs in the 37th round Wednesday afternoon.
NU junior left-handed pitcher Eric Jokisch was selected in the 11th-round by the Cubs on Tuesday.
Noble recently completed his final season in a Northwestern uniform and enjoyed an outstanding campaign. He overcame an early-season injury to appear in 49 of the team's 56 games, making 48 starts. Noble ranked second on the squad with a .355 batting average and paced NU with 42 runs scored and 4 triples. He also contributed 11 doubles, 2 home runs and 24 runs batted in.
Noble was named to the 2010 Johnny Bench Award Watch List this season, an honor which recognizes the nation's top catcher. He shined behind the plate, throwing out 22 of 47 baserunners attempting to steal with his 46.8 percent success rate ranking in the top 10 nationally.
A four-year starter, Noble appeared in 178 career games at NU, including starting 166 contests. A career .296 hitter, he hit 23 doubles, 5 triples, 10 home runs and drove in 80 during his time with the Wildcats.