TUCSON, Arizona — Former Cienega Bobcat Nick Gonzales is a walk-on turned star, and on Wednesday night the New Mexico State shortstop was selected 7th overall in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Gonzales was leading NCAA Baseball in home runs and RBI when the season was cut short due to COVID-19. He proved himself against some of the nation's toughest competition in last summer's Cape Cod League.
Gonzales ties former Sahuaro Cougar Sammy Khalifa (1992) as the highest ever player selected from southern Arizona. Both were taken 7th overall by the Pirates.
This year's Major League Baseball draft was reduced from 40 to five rounds.
