EDINBURG, Texas – The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Wednesday that junior third baseman and Mission-native Angel Ibanez has been selected by the Houston Astros with the first pick of the 28^th round (849^th overall) of the MLB Draft.
 
Ibanez hit .332 with five doubles, four triples, three home runs, 38 RBI and 38 runs scored during his junior season with the Broncs. During his three years at UTPA, Ibanez has hit .337 with 23 doubles, 13 triples, 11 home runs, 111 RBI and 124 runs scored in 157 games. He has a career on-base percentage of .384 and a slugging percentage of .467.
 
Ibanez has been one of the most difficult batters in the NCAA to strikeout throughout his career averaging just one every 15 at-bats (42 strikeouts in 630 at-bats). This season, Ibanez ranked 45^th in the nation by averaging one strikeout every 14.9 at-bats, while last year he ranked 17^th with one every 18.4 at-bats. This season, Ibanez did not strikeout in any of his first 66 at-bats, a span of 15.5 games. He only had two multi-strikeout games, giving him a total of three in his career.
 
Ibanez has seen action all over the field in his three years with the Broncs. As a junior, Ibanez played in 20 games at third base, 21 in right field and nine in center field. As a sophomore, Ibanez played in 51 games at first base and two at second base. As a freshman, Ibanez played in 37 games at second base, five at shortstop and three at second base.

Ibanez is currently playing for Asheboro Copperheads of the Coastal Plains League, where he is hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a double, two walks and a run scored in four games with a wooden bat. He has played two games in left field and two games in right field.

Ibanez becomes the 32^nd Bronc to ever be selected in the MLB Draft and the first since 2006 when the St. Louis Cardinals drafted pitcher Roberto Gomez (24^th round, 736^th overall) and the New York Mets selected pitcher Tim Haines (27^th round, 824^th overall).
 
Ibanez is the seventh infielder to be drafted out of UTPA and the first since the Oakland A's selected George Williams (24^th round, 645^th overall) in 1991.
 
Ibanez is the first Bronc to ever be selected by the Astros.
 
Ibanez is looking to become the fifth Bronc to ever make it to the major leagues as a player. Four have done it previously, including Williams, who played for the A's from 1995 through 1997 and the San Diego Padres in 2000, catcher Dan Firova, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1981 through 1982 and the Cleveland Indians in 1988, infielder Wayne Tyrone, who played for the Chicago Cubs in 1978, and outfielder Jim Tyrone, who played for the Cubs in 1972, 1974 and 1975 as well as the A's in 1977.
 
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I classification. UTPA, formerly known as Pan American College and Pan American University, is a part of the University of Texas System of Schools. The Broncs compete in 14 varsity sports; men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis, track and field, and cross country, along with women's volleyball and men's baseball. In 1963, then known as Pan American College, the Broncs men's basketball program won the NAIA National Championship with a 73-62 victory over Western Carolina. In 2008 UTPA joined the new all-sports division of the Great West Conference.