ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Junior right-handed pitcher Justin Slaten has been selected by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. As the No. 86th overall pick in the draft, Slaten is the highest Lobo baseball draft pick since Luis Gonzalez was the No. 87 pick in the 2017 draft.
In his first year being draft-eligible, Slaten skyrocketed up draft boards with a sensational junior campaign. The Longview, Texas native posted career-bests in ERA, wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and opponent batting average against. The ace of the Lobo pitching staff, Slaten posted a 5-5 record with a 2.