MOUNT PLEASANT – Former Iowa Wesleyan College baseball player Jose Nunez has signed a professional baseball contract with the Florida Marlins organization and reported to the Marlins’ extended spring training on Wednesday.
Nunez, a native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, reported to the National League franchise’s extended spring training in Jupiter, Fla., and will play second base. He will remain in Jupiter until after the Major League Baseball first-year draft held June 9-11. After the draft he will then be assigned to one of the Marlins’ minor league clubs.
Nunez played for the Tigers in 2007 and 2008 and was a two-time First Team All-Midwest Collegiate Conference and All-NAIA Region VII selection. He made the all-conference and all-region teams in 2007 as a third baseman and then was the first team all-conference and all-region shortstop in 2008. Over two seasons (86 games) he batted .387 with 94 hits, 11 home runs, 82 RBIs and 73 runs scored, and in 2008 he ranked among the MCC leaders in home runs and runs batted in.
Nunez is the first IWC baseball player to sign a contract with a major league organization since Angel Colon was drafted and signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2005. He will be attempting to become the first Wesleyan baseball player since Darrell Einertson to play in the big leagues. Einertson played for the Tigers in 1995 and that year was drafted by the New York Yankees. He made it to the majors in 2000 and pitched in 11 games that year for the Yankees.
For more information regarding the IWC baseball program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
