| Michael Rockett | Jose Hernandez |
NEW YORK ? Senior outfielders Michael Rockett and Jose Hernandez both were selected during the second day of the Major League Baseball (MLB) First Year Player Draft on Wednesday.
Rockett was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round (No. 390 overall), while the Pittsburgh Pirates took Hernandez 10 rounds later (No. 685 overall).
Rockett, selected with the 10th pick of the 13th round, became the third-highest pick in program history behind Mark Schramek (first round/Cincinnati Reds/2002) and Jeff Hutzler (10th round/San Francisco Giants/1995).
The Sugar Land native recently wrapped up his four-year UTSA career, a stint that saw him become a second-team All-American and the Southland Conference Player of the Year as a junior. He also was a two-time first-team All-SLC honoree (just the second player in school history to earn such honors/Jeff Juarez, 1998-99), and a four-time all-league selection overall (second teamer in 2006-07).
"Michael becoming the third-highest draft choice in school history is a fitting end to an outstanding four years as a Roadrunner," ninth-year head coach Sherman Corbett said. "He has worked so hard to get to this point and I wish him nothing but success as he continues his career at the professional level."
In his final campaign with the Roadrunners, the center fielder led the team in batting average (career-high .394), runs scored (63), hits (school-record 99), multi-hit games (33) and total bases (SLC-leading 167). He also posted 17 doubles, three triples, a career-best 15 home runs and 58 RBIs to go along with 14 stolen bases and eight outfield assists. Rockett, who recorded a hit in all but four of 56 games during the spring, also registered three hitting streaks of 14 games or more, including a career-best 20-gamer. He broke league career records for at-bats (940), hits (337), doubles (64), RBIs (210) and total bases (537), as well as UTSA all-time marks for games started (218) and runs (200). Rockett was just as impressive in conference games, hitting .390 with 37 runs, nine doubles, a triple, six homers, 31 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
Hernandez, the fourth pick of the 23rd round, saw his stock rise with an outstanding final campaign in navy blue and orange, one that concluded with second-team All-SLC accolades.
The Anaheim Hills, Calif., native hit .360 with 60 runs, a school-record-tying 25 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, a team-high 61 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He accumulated 156 total bases, which translated to a squad-leading .739 slugging percentage, and also walked 37 times and was hit by a dozen pitches, giving him a club-best .473 on-base percentage. In fact, Hernandez reached base by hit, walk or hit by pitch in all but one contest last season. He tied a school record with three home runs, including a two-run walk-off shot, on March 6 against Southeastern Louisiana and also had a career-high six RBIs in that tilt, one of a team-leading 17 multi-RBI efforts last spring. Hernandez was even more of a force in league action, hitting .376 with 37 runs, 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 38 RBIs and an SLC-best 94 total bases (.752 SLG%).
"Jose worked very hard to put himself into a position to earn this opportunity and I am very proud of him," Corbett said. "I know it's always been a life-long dream of his to play professionally and he now has that opportunity. I also wish him all the best as he continues his career in the Pirates' organization."
The pair pushed Corbett’s draftees to 12 and the program now has a total of 20 in its 18-year history.