June 4, 2003

LAS VEGAS - UNLV junior third baseman Brent Johnson was selected with the 1306 overall pick (44th round) by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2003 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Johnson hit .350 (96-for-274) in 2003 with 19 doubles, six home runs and 13 stolen bases. He is the UNLV career doubles leader with 69 and was named second team All-Mountain West Conference.

UNLV has had at least one player selected in the Major League Baseball draft for the last 19 years. Johnson is the fifth Rebel drafted in 2003, the most for UNLV since the 1999 MLB Draft.

A trio of UNLV recruits for the 2004 season were also selected on Wednesday. Kevin Skogley, a LHP from Hermiston, Ore., was selected in the 25th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Philadelphia Phillies picked up Jarod Estey, an outfielder from Craig, Colo., in the 45th round and LHP Ryan Tabor from Green Valley High School in the 46th round.