HIGH POINT, N.C. – Senior Willie Medina of the High Point University baseball team was selected in the 31st round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Washington Nationals on Saturday, June 8. Medina led HPU in both runs scored and stolen bases in 2013.
“We are very happy to get the opportunity to see Willie Media play professional baseball in the Washington Nationals’ system,” HPU head coach Craig Cozart said. “Willie is an exciting player and it will be fun to watch his progress throughout his professional career. This has been a great day for HPU baseball.”
Medina started all 58 games for the Panthers at shortstop in 2013 and hit .272 with 23 RBI and 51 runs scored. The shortstop had 12 doubles and two triples and was also was 10-15 on stolen base attempts. Medina led High Point in both at bats and runs scored and was third on the team in total hits. He finished third in the Big South in runs scored.
“I am very excited to have the chance to play with the Washington Nationals,” Medina said. “This is a dream come true. All I wanted to do since I was four years old was play professional baseball and to get the chance to do that with an organization like the Nationals in unbelievable. I am happy that I was able to make my parents proud after all that they have done to support me and I really need to thank all the coaches at High Point University. Without them this would not have been possible. ”
Medina opened the 2013 season with a 4-5 performance against Kansas State in Charleston, S.C. He finished the season third on the team with 22 multi-hit games and scored multiple runs in 11 games. At one point in the season, Medina reached base in 27-straight games.
In two year at High Point, Medina hit .289 with 49 RBI and 85 runs scored in 107 games played. He finished with 23 doubles, three triples 29 stolen bases. He is tied for fifth in the HPU Div. I career record book in stolen bases.
Medina is the fourth HPU baseball player selected in the 2013 MLB Draft. Redshirt-junior Jaime Schultz was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 14th round, senior Jacob Newberry was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 18th round and redshirt-junior Sean Townsley was selected in the 25th round by the Miami Marlins.