Gonzalez Drafted By Texas Rangers With 23rd Pick

Junior pitcher Alex Gonzalez was the first Oral Roberts University player off the board as he was taken in the first round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Thursday night. Gonzalez was taken 23rd overall by the Texas Rangers.

"We are really excited for Alex," first-year coach Ryan Folmar said. "He has worked so hard for us the past three years and is deserving of this opportunity. The Rangers are a great organization and should he decide to sign, we will certainly wish him the best of luck."

During his three year career at ORU, Gonzalez amassed 23 wins and is fourth all-time in career strikeouts with 292. The 2013 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year had a decorated career. As a freshman, Gonzalez earned NCBWA Freshman All-American honors and was the 2011 Summit League Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year. As a junior, he struck out 126 batters and walked just 27 and posted a career-best 1.83 ERA. The 126 strikeouts is the third most in a single season in ORU history, behind Michael Rogers (137 in 2001) and Mark Serrano (132 in 2009).

Gonzalez is the eighth ORU player ever selected in the first round, and the first since Bob Zupcic went to Boston in the 1987 draft with the 32nd overall pick. Mike Moore is the school's top draft pick, having been the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 draft.

The MLB First-Year Player Draft will continue with rounds 3-40 on Friday and Saturday.