Three Hurricanes Selected in First Round of 2008 MLB Draft
June 5, 2008
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Three University of Miami Hurricanes were selected in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft Thursday, marking the first time in the program’s 60-year history that three players were selected in the first round. Junior first baseman Yonder Alonso was selected seventh overall by the Cincinnati Reds followed by junior second baseman Jemile Weeks, the 12th overall pick to the Oakland Athletics and junior right-handed pitcher Carlos Gutierrez, the 27th pick to the Minnesota Twins.
The Hurricanes had six players selected on day one as junior right fielder Dennis Raben was the 66th overall pick taken in the second round by the Seattle Mariners, fellow outfielder Blake Tekotte followed as the 101st overall pick to the San Diego Padres and sophomore third baseman Mark Sobolewski ended up as the 129th pick in the fourth round to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Miami had two players taken in the first round in 2005 when third baseman Ryan Braun was the fifth overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers and RHP Cesar Carrillo was drafted 18th overall by the San Diego Padres.
Alonso, a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American and first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, became the fourth-highest draft pick in school history following in the footsteps of Pat Burrell, the first overall pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1998, Alex Fernandez, the fourth overall pick of the Chicago White Sox in 1990 and Braun. Alonso led the ACC in home runs (21) and the nation in walks (69). He ranks third all-time in UM history in home runs (49) and brings a .370 batting average into this weekend’s NCAA Super Regional.
Weeks, also a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American and first team All-ACC selection, ranks second on the team in hits (79) while producing 57 RBI. He is 19-of-20 in stolen bases and has 32 extra base hits (16 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs). He is Miami’s all-time leader in career triples (19).
Gutierrez was a second team All-ACC selection and up for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. The junior closer is 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 12 saves, which ties for eighth all-time in a single season. Opponents are hitting just .206 against him.
Raben is fifth on team in RBI (47) while putting up 52 hits. He has 13 doubles and nine home runs while slugging .535 in just 47 games played. He has also scored 48 runs, which is the fifth-most on the team.
Tekotte is one of the best table-setters in the nation. He leads Miami with 83 hits, which includes 12 doubles, four triples and 11 home runs for 46 RBI while hitting .371. He ranked second in the ACC going 26-of-32 in stolen bases while also owning a .480 on-base percentage. He slugs .607 in 2008. He earned first team All-ACC honors in 2008.
Sobolewski was the fourth member of Miami’s first team All-ACC infield. He is the team’s second leading RBI guy for the second straight season after driving in 54 in 2007 as a freshman. He ranks fourth on the team in hits with 75 while hitting .326.
