(Peru, Neb.) – For the third time in five years, a Peru State Bobcat baseball player has been drafted during the Major League Baseball draft.  Junior shortstop Randy Santiesteban was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 40^th round as the 1,213^th pick overall.

Randy Santiesteban" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=15&image_path=/images/2014/6/9/Randy_Santiesteban.jpg" data-saved-caption="Randy Santiesteban - drafted by the Atlanta Braves" />

 
Santiesteban, from Hialeah, Fla., was happy to be drafted and said, "I'm just really excited that the Braves are giving me the opportunity to achieve my dream.  They (the Braves' organization) should be contacting me in the next couple of days with an offer and I am going to take it." 
 
A two-time Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) first team selection was also a pre-season NAIA All-American this past year.  The 6-0 junior started 47 games this past season and finished the season with a .363 batting average and .542 slugging percentage.  Santiesteban led Peru State with 40 RBIs and also stole eight bases.
 
 

The sport management and exercise science major finished in the top ten in 13 different categories among HAAC players.  Santiesteban and his Bobcat teammates finished just one game short of making the NAIA national championships the past two seasons.  In 2012, the Bobcats became the first team to earn a berth in the championships where they won two games in their regional and finished with 37 wins, the second-most in Peru State history.
 
Bobcat head coach Wayne Albury is proud of Randy being drafted.  Albury stated, "Randy has worked very hard since coming to Peru State.  He was very dedicated to reaching his goal and put in the effort to reach it.  He was a good team leader.  We wish him well in his next endeavor."
 
In talking about his experience at Peru State, Santiesteban noted, "I loved my experience as a Bobcat and I owe a lot of this to Coach Albury and my teammates.  Without them, this wouldn't have been possible."
 
Santiesteban joins former Bobcat players Yimy Rodriguez and Andre Kinder as Peru State players drafted by Major League Baseball.  Rodriguez was drafted by the Log Angeles Dodgers in 2010 while Kinder as drafted by Philadelphia Phillies in 2011.