Aggie baseball players drafted by major league

Bulletin report

Junior Daniel Johnson was selected by the Washington Nationals in the fifth round as the 154th overall pick in the 2016 MLB First Year Player Draft in June. He is the 38th player drafted in program history, and the highest since Luke Hopkins was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round as the 150th overall pick.

“I am extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Johnson said. “This not a chance everybody gets and I will not let it go to waste.”

After Johnson’s breakout junior season, the Vallejo, California, native was named the 2016 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year by the league’s 10 head coaches. He was also named First Team All-WAC and to the WAC All-Tournament Team. Johnson also garnered his share of national accolades as he earned Louisville Slugger National Hitter of the Week and NCBWA National Hitter of the Month honors.

A three-time WAC Hitter of the Week, Johnson’s most impressive performance of the season was in a conference series against Sacramento State, where he went 10for-15 at the plate and belted four home runs, driving in 13 runs.

During a seven-game home stand to close out the home regular season, Johnson hit home runs in five straight games. He finished the season with three multi-home run games.

“One of our three goals we have as a coaching staff in developing this program are to recruit and develop players,” said Brian Green, head coach of baseball. “To see (Johnson) go from a guy who was sent to a junior college and recruited here as a pitcher to become one of the premier centerfielders in the country is a credit to him and how hard he has worked. We couldn’t be prouder for him, because he has earned that draft status.”

Also drafted is junior Joe Galindo, who was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 13th round as the 384th overall pick in the 2016

JOHNSON

GALINDO history. The double drafts mark the first time since 2013 that multiple Aggies were drafted in the same year.

“I am really blessed and pretty speechless to receive this opportunity,” Galindo said. “To get the chance to continue playing this game and make my family proud is pretty special.”

After a breakout junior season, the El Paso, Texas native finished his 2016 campaign ranked second in the Western Athletic Conference in games finished (19), fourth in saves (8) and fifth in games pitched in relief (26). In WAC play, Galindo ranked tied for the lead with teammate Tyler Erwin for games pitched in relief (16), second in saves (7) and second in games finished (13).

A Second Team All-WAC selection by the league’s 10 head coaches, Galindo finished the season with an impressive 2.48 ERA and a 3-1 record in 29.0 innings pitched out of the bullpen. Additionally, he racked up 47 strikeouts, with opponents hitting just .187 against him.

“We are really happy for Joe and his family,” Green said. “He was a tremendous teammate and competitor, and has a huge future ahead of him in baseball. We couldn’t be happier for him and the Galindo family, and wish them nothing but the best.”