June 5, 2001

LAS VEGAS - Junior pitcher Ryan Olson was selected by the New York Mets with the 312th overall pick (tenth round) in the 2001 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

Olson, the 2000 Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year, missed the first half of the 2001 season due to an ankle injury suffered on the first day of practice. He compiled a 4-4 record with a 5.09 ERA and pitched the first shutout in MWC Tournament history with a 1-0 victory over San Diego State in UNLV's first-round game.

Olson is the third UNLV player ever selected by the New York Mets. 1993 saw the Mets select both pitcher Eric Ludwick and outfielder Rodney Mazion. Ludwick was selected in the second round.

UNLV has had at least one player selected in the Major League Baseball draft for the last 17 years.

Rounds 1-20 were selected on Tuesday, with rounds 21-50 to be selected on Wednesday.