ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of New Mexico junior left-handed pitcher Alex Estrella was named to CoSIDA’s Academic All-District team the organization announced today. The native of Las Vegas, Nev., owns a 4.18 GPA in economics and is already pursuing his MBA in finance.
Estrella is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in a team-high 21 appearances this season after not pitching last year and taking a redshirt. However, a change in his mechanics has allowed him to return to action and thrive as the Lobos’ first left-handed option out of the bullpen. He earned a three-inning save in UNM’s season-opening tournament in Arizona and has been a rock in the bullpen ever since.
“I’m extremely proud of this young man who has had to persevere,” UNM head baseball coach Ray Birmingham said. “He’s fought through it. He is one of the kids that I admire most out of all the players I’ve coached.”
Estrella is a two-time Academic All-Mountain West performer as well as a two-time Mountain West Scholar-Athlete. He becomes UNM’s third CoSIDA Academic All-District performer in as many years, joining Josh Melendez in 2013 and Sam Haggerty last season. Just last month he was honored as one of UNM’s top student-athletes as well.
District 7 comprises all schools from Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming, and Estrella owns the highest GPA of those honored. He is one of three Mountain West student-athletes to be honored along with Russell Williams of Air Force and Taylor Tempel of Fresno State on the District 8 squad.