First Day of MLB First-Year Player Draft Complete

	APU's Kirk Nieuwenhuis was picked No. 100 by the New York Mets; the first NAIA player selected in 2008

June 6, 2008

story courtesy of Azusa Pacific Sports Information Department

ORLANDO -- Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University junior centerfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis was selected by the New York Mets with their third-round selection, the 100th overall pick of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Nieuwenhuis was the lone NAIA baseball player selected on Day 1. The second and final day of the draft continues on Friday (June 6) from the Disney Sports Complex. For complete coverage of the draft, click here.

"I really had no idea who was going to pick me, or even if I would go the first day (of the 2-day draft)," said Nieuwenhuis. "I had gotten calls from a lot of different teams, and I didn't guess it would be the third round, but God is good, and it came earlier than I expected. I was ecstatic."

Nieuwenhuis, Baseball America's 2008 NAIA Preseason Player of the Year and a 2008 NAIA All-American first team selection, batted .400 (90-for-225) with 20 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a program single-season record 84 runs for the Cougars as they advanced to the NAIA World Series for the second straight season, just the second time in program history the program had made back-to-back World Series trips. Through through seasons at Azusa Pacific, Nieuwenhuis has also set two career marks with 12 triples and 190 runs.

"Coming out of high school, everyone dreams of signing a professional contract for millions of dollars," said Nieuwenhuis, "but the biggest statement I want other prospective high school athletes to know is that I think I made the best decision of my life to go to Azusa Pacific. To go get a great Christian education while playing baseball at a highly competitive level, that's something you can't replace."

The 6-foot-3 centerfielder was named the 2007 MVP of the prestigious Alaska Baseball League, a summer collegiate wood-bat league that regularly showcases future professional baseball talent. Nieuwenhuis batted .333 (52-for-156) in 40 games for the Athletes In Action Fire squad, registering 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, and team-highs of 35 runs and 30 RBIs.

Since 2000, All-Alaska League honorees have included current major leaguers Garrett Olson (Baltimore Orioles), Jacoby Ellsbury (Boston Red Sox), John Bowker (San Francisco Giants), Jered Weaver (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Ben Francisco (Cleveland Indians), Jeff Francis (Colorado Rockies), Ryan Garko (Cleveland Indians) and Jeremy Reed (Seattle Mariners).

If Nieuwenhuis forgoes his senior season of eligibility by signing a professional contract with the Mets, he will likely be assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones, New York's short-season Class A affiliate.

Timothy Beckham of Griffin (Ga.) High School was the No. 1 overall pick. The 6'0", 188 lb. shortstop went to the Tampa Bay Rays.