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@ThomasRomeroS
There was never any doubt that the New Mexico baseball team had talent.
The 2013 MLB draft emphasized that fact with seven Lobos drafted over the course of three days, setting a new record for UNM players drafted in a single year.
Junior third baseman DJ Peterson was the first Lobo off the board: The Seattle Mariners took Peterson as the 12th overall pick.
“It was incredible,” Peterson said in an interview with the MLB Network. “I’ve been waiting for this all year. This is a once-in-a-lifetime type thing.”
UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said he couldn’t be happier for Peterson, who became the highest draft pick in school history. Peterson is the third first-round pick in UNM history, and the first since 1985.
“This is a big deal,” Birmingham said. “DJ can hit for average and he can hit for power, and there aren’t many guys that can do that.”
In 2010, the Mariners drafted Peterson right out of high school in the 33rd round, but he declined a six-figure bonus and chose to play for the Lobos.
“I think my maturity and plate discipline (led the Mariners to draft me again),” he said. “It allowed me to grow up as a man a little bit. I got to get out, be on my own, live by myself … so I think all those factors were what I needed to work on, and I did, so the Mariners saw the improvement and took me at 12.”
On the second day of the draft, senior pitcher Sam Wolff was taken by the Texas Rangers in the 6th round (190th overall) and senior catcher Mitch Garver was picked in the ninth round (260th overall) by the Minnesota Twins.
“It’s a dream come true,” Wolff said. “You work your entire life for this and now it’s finally happening. Being a senior and finishing my Lobo career and to get to continue on playing baseball is amazing.”
This is the third time that Wolff has been selected in the draft.
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In 2009, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim took Wolff in the 42nd round, and in 2011 the Boston Red Sox picked Wolff in the 47th round.
Garver was named Co-Mountain West Player of the Year along with Peterson and a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award for the second straight season.
“I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to play for the Twins,” he said. “It’s a great organization and I can’t wait to get started.”
Four Lobos were taken on the final day of the draft: senior shortstop Alex Allbritton was selected in the 21st round (637th overall) by the Angels, senior pitcher Will Mathis was picked by the Mariners in the 25th round (747th overall), junior pitcher Jake McCasland was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 26th round (792nd overall), and senior center fielder Josh Melendez was the first pick of the 37th round (1,097 overall) by the Houston Astros.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Allbritton said. “I was unsure going into today if it would happen, but I’m thankful the Angels showed the confidence in me to draft me.”
Birmingham said he’s proud to have so many players drafted, but he knows that the draft can hurt the team as well.
“I was hoping it’d be eight,” he said, referring to senior Luke Campbell who went undrafted but is expected to be signed as a free agent. “It speaks volumes that coming to the University of New Mexico is a good door to professional baseball. Kids improve their rounds and kids that have never been drafted get drafted. The work ethic and blue-collar attitude that is Lobo baseball is what makes these kids become professional baseball players. That’s obviously attractive to MLB teams.”
“Kids know that they can come to the University of New Mexico, get better, and get drafted,” he continued. “But it’s a double-edged sword. We lose guys (to the draft) every year. If I can get to where I can keep the top New Mexico boys for four straight years, I’ve got a chance to do something special here.”
