COLUMBUS, Ga., June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Josh Vitters led a parade of 13 Aflac All-American baseball players selected in the first round of today's 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, the most in one year since the game's inception in 2003. Vitters, a power hitting third baseman from Cypress High School (Anaheim, Ca.), went to the Chicago Cubs with the third pick in the draft. Since the game's inception in 2003, 42 Aflac All-American alumni have been selected in the first round of the draft, including No. 1 overall selections Matt Bush (2004, San Diego) and Justin Upton (2005, Arizona), and 11 picks in the 2006 draft.

"This is unbelievable," Vitters said after being selected by the Cubs on Thursday. "It is just so awesome it happened. It's a dream come true. Playing in the Aflac game (where he hit doubles off fellow Aflac first round picks Michael Main, Madison Bumgarner and Rick Porcello) definitely helped me. There was top competition and it is the best showcase game to play in. I know it helped me a lot being there."

The annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic showcases 38 of the nation's top high school players in an East versus West match-up following their junior year. Aflac All-Americans are chosen by official selection partners Baseball America magazine and prep scouting service Perfect Game USA.

    Aflac All-American players drafted in today's first round included:

    No. 3 --  Josh Vitters, 3B, Anaheim, Ca. -- Chicago Cubs
    No. 10 -- Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Lenior, N.C. -- San Francisco Giants
    No. 14 -- Jason Heyward, OF/1B, McDonough, Ga. -- Atlanta Braves
    No. 17 -- Blake Beavan, RHP, Irving, Texas -- Texas Rangers
    No. 22 -- Tim Alderson, RHP, Phoenix -- San Francisco Giants
    No. 24 -- Michael Main RHP/OF, Deltona, Fla. -- Texas Rangers
    No. 27 -- Rick Porcello, RHP, Chester, N.J. -- Detroit Tigers
    No. 31 -- Josh Smoker, LHP, Sugar Valley, Ga. -- Washington Nationals
              (supplemental first round)
    No. 32 -- Nick Noonan, SS/2B, San Diego -- San Francisco Giants
              (supplemental first round)
    No. 33 -- Jon Gilmore, 3B, Iowa City, Iowa -- Atlanta Braves (supplemental
              first round)
    No. 44 -- Neil Ramirez, RHP, Virginia Beach, Va. -- Texas Rangers
              (supplemental first round)
    No. 45 -- Justin Jackson, SS, Ashville, N.C. -- Toronto Blue Jays
              (supplemental first round)
    No. 49 -- Michael Burgess, OF, Tampa -- Washington Nationals (supplemental
              first round)

This year's draft comes one day before pitcher Homer Bailey, an alumnus of the inaugural 2003 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic, makes his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds. Bailey is the first Aflac All-American to reach the major leagues.

The 5th annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic will be played on Saturday, August 11, at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith will serve as Honorary Chairman for this year's game, which will be televised live on Fox Sports Net (FSN) at 3 p.m. ET.

For more information about this year's Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic, please visit www.aflacallamerican.com.

About Aflac

For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan. Our insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired Companies for seven consecutive years and in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for nine consecutive years. Aflac has also been recognized three times by both Fortune magazine's listing of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and Working Mother magazine's listing of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

About Sports America

Sports America, Inc., is a sports marketing and event management firm based in Rockville, Md., which created and currently produces the Aflac Classic. Sports America also produces the McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game.

Media Contacts (Photos Available):
Tim Turner
Aflac Incorporated
706-243-5594
trturner@aflac.com

Jeff Heckelman
Edelman Sports
jeff.heckelman@edelman.com
SOURCE Aflac