June 8, 2004

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Senior first baseman and designated hitter Greg Powers became the second UCSB baseball player to be drafted when the Toronto Blue Jays selected him with their 33rd pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. Teammate Ivan Ramirez, a senior left-hander, was then selected by the Texas Rangers in the 50th and final round Tuesday afternoon. The two join teammate Nate Sutton who was taken earlier in the 24th round by the Anaheim Angels.

The 23-year old Powers was the 987th overall pick in the draft and was taken by Toronto as a third baseman. Ramirez, the 1480th pick overall, will join his older brother Erasmo in the Rangers organization. The elder Ramirez has so far posted a 3.15 ERA in 20 inning pitched for Texas in 2004.

Powers spent two years at UCSB after two seasons at the University of Arizona in 2001 and 2002. In limited action in 2003, Powers hit .227 in just 44 at bats for Santa Barbara. Then in 2004, the Scottsdale, Arizona, native exploded to lead the Gauchos with a .349 average and a .474 on-base percentage. His 59 hits ranked fifth best on the team and his 10 doubles tied him for fourth.

"I'm really exicted," Powers said Tuesday. "It's such a good opportunity for me."

Ramirez, who also transfered to Santa Barbara prior to his junior season, was the Gauchos most heavily relied upon reliever over the past two seasons. With a 3.78 career ERA at UCSB, Ramirez moved into ninth place on UCSB's all-time appearance list after pitching in 60 games in his two years. Also in 2004, Ramirez came within one appearance of tying Frank Spear's 1984 record of 32 outings.