SIGN UP HERE FOR THE FIRST PITCH BANQUET
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Come spend an exciting evening with The University of New Mexico baseball program and a pair of Albuquerque natives who play key roles in Major League Baseball franchises as the Lobos host The First Pitch Banquet Feb. 4 at The Event Center at Sandia Golf Club.
The Event Center at Sandia Golf Club
Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs Special Assistant to the President/GM and Director of Major League Scouting Kyle Evans along with the 2017 UNM baseball team will be honored at the event set for 6 p.m. (social) with dinner beginning at 7 p.m.
Legendary Albuquerque news anchor Dick Knipfing, who spent five decades covering the state and is a UNM alum, will be the master of ceremonies for the event. Along with the social and dinner, there will be opportunities to take photos with Bregman, Evans and your favorite Lobo baseball player.
Bregman graduated from Albuquerque Academy in 2012 after a decorated prep career that also saw him help lead the 16-and-under USA National Team to a gold medal in the Pan American Baseball Championships. He was named MVP and became the first high school player to ever be named the USA Baseball Richard W. “Dick” Case Player of the Year.
Bregman moved on to LSU where he had a decorated career with the Tigers, including earning numerous All-American honors during his three seasons. He was also awarded the Brooks Wallace Award, given to the nation’s top college shortstop and was one of four finalist for the Golden Spikes Award – given to the nation’s top college player.
Bregman was drafted by the Houston Astros with the second overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, was named the 2016 Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today and made his major league debut July 25 of this year. Following a slow start, Bregman finished with a .264 average with eight home runs, 13 doubles, three triples and 34 RBI in 201 at-bats as the every-day third baseman for the Astros in the final two months of the season.
Evans is a 1997 Albuquerque Eldorado grad who went on to pitch at Baylor University, where he went 18-3 with a 3.82 ERA in two seasons. Evans was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Indians in 2000 and made it to as high Triple-A before ending his professional career and getting into scouting – starting with the Boston Red Sox in 2006 where he served as the coordinator of advanced scouting for two years and was a major league scout for four more seasons with the Red Sox.
The Chicago Cubs hired Evans prior to the 2012 season as the assistant director of advanced scouting and a year later was promoted to his current position where he works with Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein to help evaluate players as well as be in charge of advanced scouting and video for the organization.
Cocktails, dinner, a silent auction and a live auction will take place at the event. The cost to attend the event is $150 per person or $1,500 per table.
To RSVP or inquire about VIP seating, send an email to RayBirm@unm.edu.