COLUMBUS, Ga., June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Eleven Aflac All-American baseball players were selected in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft today. Since the game's inception in 2003, 29 Aflac All-American alumni have been selected in the first round of the draft, including recent No. 1 overall selections Matt Bush (2004, San Diego) and Justin Upton (2005, Arizona).

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"Aflac congratulates all of our '05 Aflac All-Americans on their selection in today's draft. We're very proud of their accomplishments and are glad to have played a role in showcasing America's most talented high school baseball players," said Al Johnson, second vice president, Director of Branding and Advertising at Aflac.

The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic showcases the nation's top high school players in an East versus West match-up each year. Aflac All- Americans are chosen by official selection partners Baseball America magazine and prep scouting service Perfect Game USA. All participants must have just completed their junior year of high school, be in good academic standing and display redeeming qualities off the field that embody the ideals of the sport of baseball, including discipline, determination and hard work.

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

    First Round
    No. 9 - Bill Rowell, 3B, Sewell, N.J. - Baltimore Orioles
    No. 12 - Kasey Kiker, LHP, Phenix City, AL - Texas Rangers
    No. 15 - Chris Marrero, 3B, Miami, FL - Washington Nationals
    No. 16 - Jeremy Jeffress, RHP, South Boston, VA - Milwaukee Brewers
    No. 18 - Kyle Drabek, RHP/SS, The Woodlands, TX - Philadelphia Phillies
    No. 20 - Chris Parmelee, OF/1B, Chino Hills, CA - Minnesota Twins
    No. 22 - Colton Willems, RHP, Fort Pierce, FL - Washington Nationals
    No. 23 - Max Sapp, C, Windermere, FL - Houston Astros
    No. 24 - Cody Johnson, 1B, Panama City, FL - Atlanta Braves
    No. 25 - Hank Conger, 3B/C, Huntington Beach, CA - Los Angeles Angels
    No. 38 - Cory Rasmus, RHP/SS, Seale, AL - Atlanta Braves (supplemental
             first round)

The 4th annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic will be played on Saturday, August 12 at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium. Baseball legend Reggie Jackson, a 14-time All-Star and two-time World Series Most Valuable Player, will serve as Honorary Chairman for this year's game, which will be televised live on Fox Sports Net (FSN) at 3:00 p.m. ET.

To learn more about the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic, visit http://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. Aflac's 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 six consecutive years and Forbes magazine's Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies for five consecutive years. In January 2006, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the eighth consecutive year. Aflac was also included in Fortune magazine's list of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities in August 2005, and in September 2005, Aflac Japan was named the Life Insurance Company of the Year at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards, sponsored by the Asia Insurance Review. 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 & For Photos:
Mechell Clark Danny Ferrauiola
Aflac Incorporated Edelman
706-243-8004 212-704-8299, 646-483-8242
meclark@aflac.com danny.ferrauiola@edelman.com
SOURCE Aflac Incorporated