AZUSA, Calif. -- For the third straight season, three Azusa Pacific players were selected in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, as juniors James Acuña and
Cole Kleszcz along with senior catcher
Justin Gomez were all picked within a five-round span Wednesday.
Acuña, a junior right-handed pitcher, was the 29th-round selection of the Atlanta Braves, while Gomez went two rounds later in the 31st round to the Cincinnati Reds. Kleszcz, the NCAA Division II West Region Player of the Year and the NCAA (all divisions) home run leader was taken in the 33rd round by the New York Mets.
Azusa Pacific has had 50 players drafted all-time, and this is now the fifth time Azusa Pacific has had three players drafted in one year. It's the first time the Cougars have produced three draft picks each year consecutively for a three-year stretch. Other seasons with three Cougars selected in the MLB draft were the 2008, 2014, 2017, and 2018 drafts.
James Acuña | Atlanta Braves | 29th round (pick #877 overall)
Acuña, a right-handed starting pitcher who transferred to Azusa Pacific in 2019 after playing two seasons at University of Oregon, started two games over the first two months of the season before his season was cut short due to injury. In seven starts, Acuña posted a 2.51 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.
In Acuña's words: "After two years at Oregon, I decided to move on, and even though this isn't how I dreamed I would start my professional career, I'm excited to get through this recovery process and do it with the Braves organization. I met some of my best friends at Azusa Pacific, and I felt so supported throughout the season by my teammates and the coaches."
Justin Gomez | Cincinnati Reds | 31st round (pick #924 overall)
Gomez, a four-year starting catcher for the Cougars, was the All-PacWest first team catcher the last three years while leading Azusa Pacific to three consecutive 40-win seasons. In 2019, Gomez batted .358 (68-for-190) with 12 doubles, 9 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 45 runs scored, and he finished his career on a 22-game hitting streak which ran all the way into the final game of the NCAA Division II West Super Regional. Gomez earned NCBWA All-Region first team honors and ABCA All-West Region second team honors in 2019.
In Gomez's words: "Getting drafted was a surreal feeling for me. I was heartbroken last year with an injury right before the playoffs, but that put a chip on my shoulder that I didn't realize was there. Knowing how low you can go prepares you for the next challenge, and I had never thought that experience would continue to shape me into being a better person. Azusa Pacific was the only school that believed in me and gave me a shot, and what we've left behind is a great Division II program. Hopefully there are more guys like me out there who can see the potential they have here and get the opportunity to fulfill their dreams."
Cole Kleszcz | New York Mets | 33rd round (pick #988 overall)
Kleszcz, an outfielder who also transferred to Azusa Pacific in 2019 from UC Santa Barbara, earned NCAA Division II West Region Player of the Year honors from all three regional award programs while collecting PacWest Player of the Year and PacWest Newcomer of the Year honors. Kleszcz led all divisions of NCAA baseball in home runs (27), batting .374 (79-for-211) with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 27 home runs, and 63 RBIs. Kleszcz was also drafted two years ago after his freshman season at College of the Canyons, but he did not sign professionally at that time after his 40th-round selection by the Cleveland Indians, instead choosing to continue playing collegiately for a season at UC Santa Barbara.
In Kleszcz's words: "It was really exciting to get my name called, and I was happy I got to be home and enjoy it with my family. I've had some ups and downs throughout my last few years, so I have to thank the Azusa Pacific coaching staff for giving me the shot and believing in me. I was confident the whole way this season, and in the times I did get down a little, Coach would pick me up and help me continue to get better. I was able to find a home at Azusa Pacific, and it turned out to be a great fit."
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