Biola senior second baseman Hawkins Gebbers was selected in the 33rd round by the Seattle Mariners on Thursday during the final day of the 2009 MLB First-Year Players Draft.

Gebbers, who was the 983rd overall selection in the draft, will get a chance to play professional ball in the organization he grew up rooting for in nearby Brewster, Washington.

“I'm so excited for this opportunity,” said Gebbers. “When it got to the third day of the draft, I was a bit worried that I might be overlooked as an NAIA senior. But when my name came up, I was definitely excited about it!

“Playing in the Mariners’ organization is icing on the cake. If I could make it up to the AAA level or even into the bigs, I would get a chance to play close to home.”

Gebbers is planning on signing with Seattle soon and likely will report to either the Arizona Rookie League or the Mariners’ short-season A team in Everett.

Gebbers got off to a bit of a slow start to the 2009 season, but wrapped up the year with a team-best .344 batting average. He also had 15 home runs, 53 RBIs, 20 doubles and 49 runs scored--all of which lead the team.

Gebbers was one of just a handful of GSAC players drafted this year and the lone representative from Biola. A number of Eagles are still expected to sign non-drafted free agent contracts in the next couple of days as the Major League teams round out their minor league rosters.

Read a full article in The Wenatchee World.

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Written by Jeff Hoffman, Sports Information Director.