University of Minnesota Athletics
Decker Drafted by Twins in 27th Round
6/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Junior Eric Decker (Cold Spring, Minn.) became the second Golden Gopher to be drafted by the Minnesota Twins today, as he was selected with the 27th round with the 822nd pick in the Major League Draft on Wednesday, June 10.
Decker was drafted in baseball for the second time in his career at Minnesota. Last year, he went in the 38th round to the Milwaukee Brewers. Decker is also the fifth different Golden Gopher to be drafted by the Minnesota Twins since 2008. He joins McCallum (who was drafted earlier today in fourth round), Kyle Carr (12th round in 2008), Nate Hanson (28th round in 2008) and Matt Nohelty (18th round in 2008).
Last year, he joined Andy Persby and Noel Jenke as the only Golden Gophers to letter in football and be drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft.
On the season, Decker batted .319 with 43 runs, 13 doubles, four home runs, 25 RBI and 11 stolen bases. He played his best towards the end of the season, as he collected three of the four home runs and batted .414 (24-for-58) in the month of May.
In nine postseason games, Decker batted .324 (11-for-34) with six runs, six RBI a home run, six and had two stolen bases. He was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team, after leading the Golden Gophers in batting average in the conference tournament. In the Big Ten Tournament, Decker batted .450 (9-for-20) with four runs, five RBI and two stolen bases. His finest performance came when he went 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs and a career-high four RBI in a 9-6 win over Ohio State that sent the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten Tournament championship game.
Decker is a three-year letterwinner in football where he was a First-Team All-Big Ten wide receiver in 2008, and is a two-year letterwinner in baseball. He is the first Golden Gopher athlete since Garry Reierson to receive multiple letters in football and baseball. Reierson lettered in football in 1964-66 and did so in baseball in 1966-67.
Decker was drafted in baseball for the second time in his career at Minnesota. Last year, he went in the 38th round to the Milwaukee Brewers. Decker is also the fifth different Golden Gopher to be drafted by the Minnesota Twins since 2008. He joins McCallum (who was drafted earlier today in fourth round), Kyle Carr (12th round in 2008), Nate Hanson (28th round in 2008) and Matt Nohelty (18th round in 2008).
Last year, he joined Andy Persby and Noel Jenke as the only Golden Gophers to letter in football and be drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft.
On the season, Decker batted .319 with 43 runs, 13 doubles, four home runs, 25 RBI and 11 stolen bases. He played his best towards the end of the season, as he collected three of the four home runs and batted .414 (24-for-58) in the month of May.
In nine postseason games, Decker batted .324 (11-for-34) with six runs, six RBI a home run, six and had two stolen bases. He was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team, after leading the Golden Gophers in batting average in the conference tournament. In the Big Ten Tournament, Decker batted .450 (9-for-20) with four runs, five RBI and two stolen bases. His finest performance came when he went 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs and a career-high four RBI in a 9-6 win over Ohio State that sent the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten Tournament championship game.
Decker is a three-year letterwinner in football where he was a First-Team All-Big Ten wide receiver in 2008, and is a two-year letterwinner in baseball. He is the first Golden Gopher athlete since Garry Reierson to receive multiple letters in football and baseball. Reierson lettered in football in 1964-66 and did so in baseball in 1966-67.
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