Courtesy:
UTSA Atletics Release
Rockett was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round
(No. 390 overall), while the Pittsburgh Pirates took Hernandez
10 rounds later (No. 685 overall).
Rockett, selected with the
10th pick of the 13th round, became the third-highest pick
in program history behind Mark Schramek (first round/Cincinnati
Reds/2002) and Jeff Hutzler (10th round/San Francisco Giants/1995).
The Sugar Land native recently
wrapped up his four-year UTSA career, a stint that saw him
become a second-team All-American and the Southland Conference
Player of the Year as a junior. He also was a two-time first-team
All-SLC honoree (just the second player in school history
to earn such honors/Jeff Juarez, 1998-99), and a four-time
all-league selection overall (second teamer in 2006-07).
"Michael becoming the
third-highest draft choice in school history is a fitting
end to an outstanding four years as a Roadrunner," ninth-year
head coach Sherman Corbett said. "He has worked so hard
to get to this point and I wish him nothing but success as
he continues his career at the professional level."
In his final campaign with
the Roadrunners, the center fielder led the team in batting
average (career-high .394), runs scored (63), hits (school-record
99), multi-hit games (33) and total bases (SLC-leading 167).
He also posted 17 doubles, three triples, a career-best 15
home runs and 58 RBIs to go along with 14 stolen bases and
eight outfield assists. Rockett, who recorded a hit in all
but four of 56 games during the spring, also registered three
hitting streaks of 14 games or more, including a career-best
20-gamer. He broke league career records for at-bats (940),
hits (337), doubles (64), RBIs (210) and total bases (537),
as well as UTSA all-time marks for games started (218) and
runs (200). Rockett was just as impressive in conference games,
hitting .390 with 37 runs, nine doubles, a triple, six homers,
31 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
Hernandez, the fourth pick
of the 23rd round, saw his stock rise with an outstanding
final campaign in navy blue and orange, one that concluded
with second-team All-SLC accolades.
The Anaheim Hills, Calif.,
native hit .360 with 60 runs, a school-record-tying 25 doubles,
one triple, 17 home runs, a team-high 61 RBIs and eight stolen
bases. He accumulated 156 total bases, which translated to
a squad-leading .739 slugging percentage, and also walked
37 times and was hit by a dozen pitches, giving him a club-best
.473 on-base percentage. In fact, Hernandez reached base by
hit, walk or hit by pitch in all but one contest last season.
He tied a school record with three home runs, including a
two-run walk-off shot, on March 6 against Southeastern Louisiana
and also had a career-high six RBIs in that tilt, one of a
team-leading 17 multi-RBI efforts last spring. Hernandez was
even more of a force in league action, hitting .376 with 37
runs, 14 doubles, 11 home runs, 38 RBIs and an SLC-best 94
total bases (.752 SLG%).
"Jose worked very hard
to put himself into a position to earn this opportunity and
I am very proud of him," Corbett said. "I know it's
always been a life-long dream of his to play professionally
and he now has that opportunity. I also wish him all the best
as he continues his career in the Pirates' organization."
The pair pushed Corbett’s
draftees to 12 and the program now has a total of 20 in its
18-year history.
