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Lobos Get Pair Drafted in DeVito and Estrella

Academic All-America BaseballAcademic All-America Baseball

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico had two players selected in the 2016 MLB Draft.  The World Champion Kansas City Royals selected Chris DeVito as a first baseman in the eighth round of the MLB Draft on Friday, and on Saturday, left handed pitcher Alex Estrella was selected in the 35th round by the Tampa Bay Rays.  Overall DeVito was the third player from the Mountain West selected, and he was the 253rd selection.  Estrella was the 1,050th selection in the draft.

Earlier in the week DeVito was named District VIII Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America. 

DeVito and Estrella became the university’s first teammates to both earn CoSIDA Academic All-America and get drafted in the same year.  The two players were named to the Third Team on Friday, June 3.
 
Although drafted as a first baseman, he served as UNM’s catcher for the first half of the year and as the designated hitter in the second half (he did play a few games at first base).  DeVito broke out as an all-around hitter, finishing the season batting .375 with 16 home runs.  DeVito was the team leader in slugging percentage at .685 and reached base at a .448 clip.
 
DeVito played a key role in the Lobos’ Mountain West Conference Championship and was a member of the All-Tournament team. In the Lobos’ three games, he batted 2-for-4 in each with a combined four RBI and two home runs.

Estrella was dominant for the Lobos this season after nearly seeing his career derailed by an injury.  Instead, he went 2-2 with a career-high seven saves, posting a team-best 2.96 ERA.  Estrella allowed just 22 hits in 27.1 innings as opponents hit just .224 against him.  He struck out 26 batters and allowed just three extra base hits all season. His 26 appearances were second on the team.
 
Overall DeVito was the 93rd player in program history to be drafted, and Estrella the 94th  DeVito was the first to be taken by Kansas City since Cole White in 2009.  Overall, he is the fifth Lobo to be selected by the Royals.  Estrella is the first ever Lobo draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays.