University of Minnesota Athletics
Nohelty Drafted in 38th Round by Mariners
6/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Senior Matt Nohelty (Rothschild, Wis.) was drafted by the Seattle Mariners with the 1,133rd overall pick in the 38th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday, June 11.
Nohelty joins Decker, McCallum and Sexton as one of four Golden Gophers who were drafted for the second time in their respective careers this year. Last year Nohelty was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, but elected to come back for his final season of eligibility at Minnesota.
He was the fifth Golden Gopher taken in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. That is the most since 1992 when Scott Bakkum (29th), George Behr (18th), Tom Doyle (20th), Keith Krenke (30th) and Jeff Schmidt (1st, sandwich pick) were all selected. The five players drafted also tied for the highest total in school history. Nohelty was also the first Golden Gopher drafted by the Seattle Mariners since Tom Steinbach was selected by them in the 19th round of the 1983 draft.
Earlier this year, Nohelty became the first Golden Gopher since Andy Hunter to be named All-Big Ten in all four years with the program. He was a Third-Team outfielder in 2006, first-team in 2007-08 and was a Third-Team All-Big Ten designated hitter this year. He led the Big Ten in runs scored (69), finished eighth in hits (83) and was second in the conference in stolen bases (26). In conference play, Nohelty was second in runs (29) and fifth in stolen bases (8). He finished the season batting .337 with 69 runs, 83 hits, 31 RBI, a .433 on-base percentage and 26 stolen bases.
In his career at Minnesota, Nohelty finished tied for eighth on the Golden Gopher career batting average list (.366), was fourth in at-bats (837), third in hits (306), fourth in runs scored (204) and second in stolen bases (92). In conference play, Nohelty set career school records in hits (154), runs (101) and stolen bases (41). He was also third in career Big Ten batting average in school history at .381, third in at-bats (404), tied for first in triples (6), eighth in total bases (180) and fifth in on-base percentage (.455).
Off the field, Nohelty is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a two-time First-Team Academic All-American (was also a Third-Team Academic All-American in 2007) and a three-time Top V honoree (for highest GPA among men's student-athletes at Minnesota). He is also currently one of 10 finalists up for the Lowe's Senior Class Leadership Award in baseball.
Incoming Golden Gopher freshman Ryan Abrahamson was also drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1,212th overall pick in the 40th round. Abrahamson was also named the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year as well.
Nohelty joins Decker, McCallum and Sexton as one of four Golden Gophers who were drafted for the second time in their respective careers this year. Last year Nohelty was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, but elected to come back for his final season of eligibility at Minnesota.
He was the fifth Golden Gopher taken in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. That is the most since 1992 when Scott Bakkum (29th), George Behr (18th), Tom Doyle (20th), Keith Krenke (30th) and Jeff Schmidt (1st, sandwich pick) were all selected. The five players drafted also tied for the highest total in school history. Nohelty was also the first Golden Gopher drafted by the Seattle Mariners since Tom Steinbach was selected by them in the 19th round of the 1983 draft.
Earlier this year, Nohelty became the first Golden Gopher since Andy Hunter to be named All-Big Ten in all four years with the program. He was a Third-Team outfielder in 2006, first-team in 2007-08 and was a Third-Team All-Big Ten designated hitter this year. He led the Big Ten in runs scored (69), finished eighth in hits (83) and was second in the conference in stolen bases (26). In conference play, Nohelty was second in runs (29) and fifth in stolen bases (8). He finished the season batting .337 with 69 runs, 83 hits, 31 RBI, a .433 on-base percentage and 26 stolen bases.
In his career at Minnesota, Nohelty finished tied for eighth on the Golden Gopher career batting average list (.366), was fourth in at-bats (837), third in hits (306), fourth in runs scored (204) and second in stolen bases (92). In conference play, Nohelty set career school records in hits (154), runs (101) and stolen bases (41). He was also third in career Big Ten batting average in school history at .381, third in at-bats (404), tied for first in triples (6), eighth in total bases (180) and fifth in on-base percentage (.455).
Off the field, Nohelty is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a two-time First-Team Academic All-American (was also a Third-Team Academic All-American in 2007) and a three-time Top V honoree (for highest GPA among men's student-athletes at Minnesota). He is also currently one of 10 finalists up for the Lowe's Senior Class Leadership Award in baseball.
Incoming Golden Gopher freshman Ryan Abrahamson was also drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1,212th overall pick in the 40th round. Abrahamson was also named the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year as well.
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