June 3, 2003

DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis shortstop Ryan Coultas was taken in the 13th round by the Chicago Cubs during the first day of the 2003 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Tuesday.

Coultas, a sophomore from Ventura, was the only Aggie selected during the first day of the draft. This past season Coultas batted .317 and led UC Davis with 20 doubles. He started 52 of 53 games played, collecting 64 hits and three home runs while driving in 29 runs. He also led the team with 15 stolen bases.

During the final regular season series against Cal Poly Pomona, Coultas was hit by a pitch, breaking the middle finger on his throwing hand. The injury forced him to miss the West Regional Championships and the NCAA Division II National Championships last week in Montgomery, Ala. UC Davis went 1-2 in Montgomery and finished tied for 5th at the national championships.

"Ryan is an outstanding player and certainly deserving of the recognition he has received," said UC Davis Head Coach Rex Peters. "He has worked very hard for what he has accomplished and is a great representative of the student-athlete here at UC Davis."

Last month Coultas was named to the All-California Collegiate Athletic Association First Team for the second straight season and was also an All-West Region Second Team selection.

Coultas also becomes the first non-pitcher taken from UC Daivs in the MLB Draft since the 1994 season when infielder Greg Morris was taken in the fifth round by the California Angels. Last year UC Davis had two pitchers taken on the first day of the draft, with Luke Steidlmayer going to the San Diego Padres (8th round) and Greg Bruso selected by the San Francisco Giants (16th round).

UC Davis concluded its 2003 season with a 36-24 overall record, advancing to the national championships for just the second time in school history, the first coming during the 1995 season.