Arturo Reyes drafted by Cardinals

SPOKANE - Arturo Reyes, son of Jorge and Nereyida Reyes from Warden was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 40th round of the Major League Baseball draft Saturday.

Reyes, a junior pitcher on the Gonzaga University (GU) roster was one of three Bulldogs pitches drafted during the three-day event.

"I'm pretty excited about it," Reyes said. "It's something I've wished for since I was a kid."

Reyes, who transferred to GU this year after finishing up at Columbia Basin Community College, sported a 6-3 record in 59 innings of work with a 3.79 era. He filled the role of starter, reliever and closer for the Bulldogs, and was named All-West Coast Conference honorable mention.

"We are very proud of both of ours sons," Jorge and said. "Arturo's brother Jorge Jr. was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2009."

Arturo was offered a three-year scholarship to attend GU. His field of study is sport management.

Reyes flew to Massachusetts over the weekend to take part in the Cardinals summer league at Cape Cod.

He is yet to decide if he'll toil around in the minor leagues, and may opt to return for his senior year at GU.

"If I feel more deserving of what I am offered (money-wise), I may go back and get my degree and try and increase my draft stock," he said. "But I won't know until they (the Cardinals) present their final offer, which will be at the end of the summer."

Arturo appears to have the natural ability to make it in the big leagues, but gives credit to his dad for having the opportunity to prove himself.

"He's put in just as much work on and off the field as we (his brother Jorge Jr.) have," Arturo said. "I am very thankful for everything he's sacrificed for us."