Bethune-Cookman continued to have their baseball program flourish over the weekend as senior shortstop Jose Lozada and junior pitcher Joseph Gautier were both picked up in the Major League Baseball draft on Friday afternoon.

Jose Lozada, the 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, went in the 17th round (511 overall) to the Washington Nationals. The senior from Las Piedras, Puerto Rico batted an impressive .398 on the season and registered seven homeruns on 84 hits. He was also named as a two-time Black College Baseball Player of the Week.

"This is great for Lozada as he worked very hard this year and deserves everything he gets," expressed B-CU head coach Mervyl Melendez. "He is a great player, and we were extremely happy to have had him this year."

The next pick-up for the Wildcats was junior pitcher Joseph "Gio" Gautier who went 588th overall in the 19th round to the Arizona Diamondbacks. A native of Dorado, Puerto Rico, Gautier finished the season third on the team in wins (six), third in earned run average (2.48) and tied with Eric Thomas for strikeouts atop the Wildcats list with 74. Gautier was used as a second-game starter for the 'Cats during weekend series', and had his best overall performance in an ESPN 2 televised game at then #3 ranked UCLA.

"Gio worked very hard this year, and I'm glad he was drafted," stated Melendez. "There are some things he can work on if he decides to come back, but the Diamondbacks organization is getting one heck of a pitcher if he goes. He is a great kid with a great attitude on the mound."


This is the third consecutive year the Wildcats have had a player drafted in the MLB draft as RJ Rodriguez (RHP) went in 2006, followed by Angel Mercado (OF) in 2007--both of whom went to the San Diego Padres organization. Carlos Picornell signed a free agent contract in 2005 with the Atlanta Braves.

"This is a great statement for the continuing growth of this program and the way we are helping kids play the game and get to the next level," admitted Melendez. "We also had three of our high school signees get drafted as well, which shows we also go after the best talent. We are extremely happy for these young men, and know that they will always represent Bethune-Cookman University and this baseball program to the highest level."