June 4, 2002

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University rightfielder Joey Gomes will have a shot to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in Major League Baseball after he was drafted in the eighth round (224th pick overall) by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tuesday afternoon.

Gomes joins his brother Jonny and former Bronco Randy Winn in the Devil Rays system. Jonny Gomes is currently with the minor league affiliate, Bakersfield Blaze (A), where he is batting .288 with 13 home runs and 29 RBI in 170 at bats. Randy Winn is in the midst of his second full year in the big leagues where he is batting .275 with 10 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 27 RBI to go along with nine stolen bases in 51 games.

"I think Tampa Bay will be a good fit for Joey," said Santa Clara head coach Mark O'Brien. "He should have every chance to make a name for himself in a young organization that has opportunities for talented players to move up."

The First Team All-American had his best collegiate last year for the Broncos on the Mission Campus, batting .408 with 31 doubles, 10 home runs and 51 RBI in only 55 games. He accumulated 97 hits while hitting safely in 50 of the team's 55 at bats. He was a unanimous choice on the First Team All-West Coast Conference squad, and was one of only three players to be named to the First Team All-America squad from the West Coast.