Junior outfielder for UN-R forgoes senior season, selected in
19th round
GILROY – When Chris Gimenez left the University of Nevada-Reno after completing his junior season, the team captain was planning on returning for one more year.
But with the Major League Baseball Draft getting underway Monday, offers did come his way from the Texas Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 15th and 16th rounds.
Gimenez, however, stuck to his guns, turning them both down. The 2001 Gilroy High product was offered $20,000 plus the rest of his college paid for to sign with either club, but he wanted to first graduate and earn his degree.
Three rounds later, the phone rang again – actually it rang twice more. One was from the Cleveland Indians and the other was from the Toronto Blue Jays. Originally, the offer on the table was the same as before and Gimenez graciously passed again.
“They asked me what is it going to take to sign me and I said, ‘$40,000 and the rest of college paid for,'” said Gimenez, whose counter offer was then agreed upon by Cleveland and Toronto. “They both offered me the same amount. It was honestly up to who picked me first.”
With the sixth pick in the 19th round, Gimenez was selected by the Cleveland Indians – which were 10 picks ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays.
“It honestly was really, really tough. It was the toughest decision I’ve had to make in my life,” said Gimenez, who was drafted right out of high school by the Colorado Rockies but opted to go to Reno instead.
“I had to do what was best for me. Going back to college and getting my degree is important to me and I plan on going back,” he added. “I didn’t want to take the chance of getting injured or not having as good of a senior year.”
Gimenez was a second team All-Western Athletic Conference pick in his junior year, hitting .314 with 49 RBIs and 14 home runs, which was second in the WAC. It was the second straight WAC honor for Gimenez, who was a first team selection after a breakout sophomore season.
After returning home to Gilroy for the first time in seven months Sunday, Gimenez had his family close by, asking their advice before making his final decision to forgoe his senior year. He will sign his contract Friday at his parent’s house.
“It’s always nice to come back home,” said Gimenez, who started playing baseball in the Gilroy Little League. “This is a dream come true. I’ve wanted this ever since I can remember, ever since I picked up a ball.”
By the end of this week, Gimenez could head to the Indians’ rookie league team in Burlingame, North Carolina. Then he will have the option of joining the Single ‘A’ affiliate in Ohio called the Mahoying Valley Scrappers.
“I’m a little nervous and a little excited. I’ve heard good and bad things about playing in the minors, but I’m ready to experience things for myself,” said Gimenez as he walked around his old stomping grounds on the Gilroy High baseball diamond. “I’m going to get paid to play a game. Everyday I play baseball is one less day I have to go out and find a real job.”
Gimenez took on many hats during his three-year career at UN-R, getting recruited as an All-League catcher out of Gilroy High but eventually moving to the outfield at both leftfield and centerfield. He was also the emergency back-up at first and third base.
“I’ve never played centerfield before this year. I like it because there is more room to roam around and you’re the boss out there,” said Gimenez, who led the Wolfpack with a .654 slugging percentage in his junior campaign. “I started off real good and then I got into a big slump. It was just the little things, but I figured it out towards the end of the year and really started hitting again.”
The consistent slugger was hitting above .400 early in the season and then watched his average plummet 100 points before he righted the ship, finishing with a .314 average.
Gimenez will now have to step his game up another notch in the minor league system, which can be brutal for young ball players with all of the traveling and life away from home.
“I have two old teammates who are playing in the same league so it will be nice to see those guys,” said Gimenez, who has already talked with his cousin Benji Dequin who just got traded from the Montreal Expos minor league system to the St. Louis Cardinals.
“When you get this high up, it’s a business. It’s not a game anymore,” Gimenez said. “You are not only playing against the other team, but you are playing against your own teammates.”
