June 7, 2005

LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior pitcher Derek Rodriguez, who helped the Rebels win the 2005 Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament championships, was drafted in the 14th round by the Chicago White Sox with the 425th pick Monday in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. Rodriguez was the only Rebel selected on the first day of the draft, which continues Wednesday.

Rodriguez finished the year 5-5 with a 5.15 ERA and he led the Rebel staff in strikeouts with 76 and innings pitched with 108.1 as he helped UNLV advance to the 2005 Tempe Regional. The right-hander tossed UNLV's only complete game of the season, going the distance against Utah on April 17 in an 11-3 win. Rodriguez earned All-Mountain West Conference honors as well.

Rodriguez' selection in this year's draft marks the 21st-consecutive year that at least one UNLV player was selected in the draft and several more may be taking Wednesday when the MLB draft concludes with the final 32 rounds of the 50 round draft.