June 5, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
Wake Forest junior Allan Dykstra was selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday. A native of San Diego, Dykstra was taken by his hometown team with the 23rd pick overall.
"I'm ecstatic about it. I was sitting here waiting and wondering and then I got a phone call from the Padres saying they wanted to draft me," said Dykstra. "It's a picture perfect situation, going home to the team I grew up watching. I knew they were interested in me, but I didn't have any idea what round or what was going to happen. It's one thing to be drafted in the first round, but it's another to be taken by my favorite team. It's a good situation, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of their organization."
The Padres have now taken a Demon Deacon with their top pick in two of the past three drafts. In 2006, San Diego selected junior third baseman Matt Antonelli with the 17th pick in the first round.
Dykstra is the fourth Deacon to be taken by the Padres since MLB instituted the draft in 1965. He joins Antonelli (2006, 1st round), Ryan Johnson (2003, 13th round) and Frank Warner (1982, 27th round).
He is the fifth player to be drafted out of Wake Forest in the first round since 1965 and the second in the Rick Rembielak era. After being taken with the 23rd pick, Dykstra is the fourth-highest drafted Deacon ever. Other Wake Forest first-rounders include Brett Wagner (1994, 19th pick by the St. Louis Cardinals), Mike MacDougal (1999, 25th pick by the Kansas City Royals), Kyle Sleeth (2003, 3rd pick by the Detroit Tigers) and Antonelli (2006, 17th pick by the San Diego Padres).
Dykstra has had a stellar three years at Wake Forest. He is a two-time All-ACC selection and earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2006. Dykstra ranks third on the school's career home run list with 49. He also holds the school's career and single-season records for walks and hit by pitches.
In 2008, Dykstra hit a team-leading .323 with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs. He led the Deacons in hitting, RBIs, runs, home runs, slugging and on-base percentage. Dykstra, who reached base safely in all but four games this season, ranked among the ACC leaders in home runs, on-base percentage and walks. He was named to the ACC All-Tournament team after going 4-for-12 with two homers and five RBIs in three postseason games.
Check back to WakeForestSports.com for further updates on the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
