UA baseball notes: Wrong jersey so right for draft pick Gibbons

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Zach Gibbons was so out of sorts Saturday that he left his No. 23 jersey at the team hotel.

The senior right fielder played in Arizona’s Super Regional game against Mississippi State while wearing No. 17.

That was a meaningful number for Gibbons in more ways than one.

Not only did Gibbons get four hits in that No. 17 jersey in the Wildcats’ 6-5 series-clinching victory over the Bulldogs, but he was drafted in the 17th round by the Angels earlier in the day.

“It was just a blur,” Gibbons said of a day he won’t forget any time soon.

Gibbons struck out to lead off the decisive 11th inning, but he had a front-row seat when freshman catcher Cesar Salazar drove in the winning run.

“It was exciting,” Gibbons said. “I was pacing back and forth in the dugout. I just heard contact and saw our team. I instantly knew it was through the hole. So we went out and dogpiled.”

Gibbons’ 4-for-6 performance raised his season average to a team-best .381.

Six Wildcats drafted

Gibbons was among six Wildcats picked on the third and final day of the MLB draft Saturday — including one UA football player.

After taking Gibbons in Round 17, the Angels grabbed classmate Cody Ramer two rounds later. Ramer and Gibbons have batted 1-2 in the lineup for most of the season and rank first or second on the team in hits, batting average and on-base percentage.

While Gibbons ranks fifth in school annals in hits, Ramer emerged this season as a starter and sparkplug for Arizona. The Angels are Ramer’s favorite team. The left-handed-hitting second baseman is from Simi Valley, California.

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The Diamondbacks used their 22nd-round pick on UA junior pitcher Kevin Ginkel. Saturday marked the third time Ginkel, a junior college transfer, had been drafted. The 6-foot-5 right-hander has indicated he will turn pro after this season.

The Seattle Mariners selected two Wildcats: senior pitcher Nathan Bannister (28th round) and senior wide receiver Trey Griffey (24th).

Bannister has emerged as Arizona’s ace this season. He won’t light up any radar guns. However, UA coach Jay Johnson had hoped that baseball’s increased emphasis on analytics would lead to Bannister being drafted, and that’s exactly what happened.

Griffey hasn’t played baseball at the UA. His father, Ken Griffey Jr., wore No. 24 with the Mariners, who will retire that number this summer when the elder Griffey is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

According to the team’s website, “the Mariners don’t expect the 22-year-old to try baseball at this point, but they do love his athleticism and, yes, the Hall of Fame bloodlines.” Trey Griffey has one more year of football eligibility.

The Milwaukee Brewers selected UA first baseman Ryan Aguilar in the 31st round. Like Bannister, Gibbons and Ramer, Aguilar is in the midst of a breakout senior season. He leads the Wildcats in home runs (eight) and RBIs (51).

One of Arizona’s top signees, infielder Nick Quintana of Arbor View High in Las Vegas, went to the Boston Red Sox in the 11th round. It remains to be seen whether he’ll sign with Boston or attend Arizona.

The Red Sox took UA third baseman/pitcher Bobby Dalbec in the fourth round Friday. Arizona’s total of six draftees (from the baseball team) is its most since it had six in 2013.

Inside pitch

• Arizona will be making its 17th appearance in the College World Series. The Wildcats are 16-1 in their last 17 postseason games dating to 2012, when they won the tournament.
• Johnson is the first first-year coach to lead his team to the College World Series since

• Tim Esmay

• at Arizona State in 2010.