WHEELER BECOMES HIGHEST SELECTION IN HORNET HISTORY AFTER BEING TABBED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF MLB DRAFT BY THE COLORADO ROCKIES

6/9/2009

SECAUCUS, N.J. - Junior outfielder Tim Wheeler became Sacramento State’s highest draft pick ever, after he was selected with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.

Wheeler, a native of Sacramento, became the school’s first two-time first team all-Western Athletic Conference selection in 2009. The centerfielder hit .385 on the season with 18 home runs and 72 runs batted in, setting the school’s single season RBI record in the process. He also broke the school’s all-time RBI mark in just three seasons, boasting 142 in his career. Wheeler hit .457 on the season with runners in scoring position, and .451 with runners on base, while amassing 15 stolen bases and five outfield assists. Wheeler ranked in the top 30 nationally in six categories, with his highest ranking coming in RBI.

A product of El Camino HS, Wheeler was a third team preseason All-American by Baseball America after being named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team in the summer of 2008. He was named team MVP for the Orleans Cardinals in the league after leading his team in hits and leading the league in stolen bases.

As a sophomore in 2008, Wheeler hit .330 with three home runs, 43 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He tied for the longest hitting streak in the WAC on the season, hitting safely in 20 consecutive games while posting 17 multi-hit games. In 2007 as a freshman, Wheeler hit .310 with six home runs, improving his average to .352 inside of WAC play.

Prior to Wheeler, Erik Bennett (1989) and Chris Kinsey (2003) were the highest draft picks in the program’s history, with both being selected in the fourth round. He was the only player from the WAC to be selected in the first round.