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2008 Baseball Schedule
Published
June 5, 2008
By
Joe Reinsch
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Kirk Nieuwenhuis was taken with the 100th overall pick of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, going in the third round to the New York Mets.
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Nieuwenhuis posted a .373 career batting average, going 222-for-595 with 93 extra-base hits and 150 RBIs in 3 seasons at Azusa Pacific.
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Nieuwenhuis becomes the third-highest baseball draft pick in Azusa Pacific history.
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In addition to standout production at the plate, Nieuwenhuis utilized his speed for 34 steals and a program career-record 12 triples in his 3-year career.
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Nieuwenhuis was a .434 batter in the postseason, going 36-for-83 with 26 runs, 29 RBIs and 18 extra-base hits (7 doubles, 2 triples and 9 home runs) in trips to the NAIA playoffs the past 2 years.
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While serving primarily as the Cougars' centerfielder the past 2 seasons, Nieuwenhuis filled in at first base, where he started as a 2006 Azusa Pacific freshman.
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Nieuwenhuis was named a 2008 NAIA All-American first team and All-Golden State Athletic Conference outfielder for Azusa Pacific.

Azusa Pacific junior centerfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis was selected by the New York Mets with their third-round selection, the 100th overall pick of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

“I really had no idea who was going to pick me, or even if I would go the first day (of the 2-day draft),” said Nieuwenhuis. “I had gotten calls from a lot of different teams, and I didn’t guess it would be the third round, but God is good, and it came earlier than I expected. I was ecstatic.”

Nieuwenhuis, Baseball America’s 2008 NAIA Preseason Player of the Year and a 2008 NAIA All-American first team selection, batted .400 (90-for-225) with 20 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a program single-season record 84 runs for the Cougars as they advanced to the NAIA World Series for the second straight season, just the second time in program history the program had made back-to-back World Series trips. Through 3 seasons at Azusa Pacific, Nieuwenhuis has also set 2 career marks with 12 triples and 190 runs.

“Coming out of high school, everyone dreams of signing a professional contract for millions of dollars,” said Nieuwenhuis, “but the biggest statement I want other prospective high school athletes to know is that I think I made the best decision of my life to go to Azusa Pacific. To go get a great Christian education while playing baseball at a highly competitive level, that’s something you can’t replace.”

The 6-foot-3 centerfielder was named the 2007 MVP of the prestigious Alaska Baseball League, a summer collegiate wood-bat league that regularly showcases future professional baseball talent. Nieuwenhuis batted .333 (52-for-156) in 40 games for the Athletes In Action Fire squad, registering 8 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, and team-highs of 35 runs and 30 RBIs.

Since 2000, All-Alaska League honorees have included current major leaguers Garrett Olson (Baltimore Orioles), Jacoby Ellsbury (Boston Red Sox), John Bowker (San Francisco Giants), Jered Weaver (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Ben Francisco (Cleveland Indians), Jeff Francis (Colorado Rockies), Ryan Garko (Cleveland Indians) and Jeremy Reed (Seattle Mariners).

If Nieuwenhuis forgoes his senior season of eligibility by signing a professional contract with the Mets, he will likely be assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones, New York’s short-season Class A affiliate.