Baseball Announces Roster Addition For Spring Semester
12/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 15, 2006
HOUSTON -- Rice University head baseball coach Wayne Graham announced Friday (Dec. 15) that League City, Tex., native Juan "J.P." Padron has enrolled in school for the 2007 spring semester and will join the Owls for the upcoming season.
Padron played in the infield last season at San Jacinto College and helped lead the Gators to a third place finish at the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. He batted .303 with four home runs, 11 doubles and 20 RBI in 56 games. Padron was an 11th round major league draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004 after a stellar prep career at Clear Creek High School. He played one season at LSU in 2005 before transferring to San Jacinto.
"J.P. has the right physical qualities to be an impact player," Graham said. "We hope he can realize his full potential. He's very strong and we're glad he's here."
Padron will join the team for its first practice in January of 2007. The Owls' 2007 season-opener is scheduled for Feb. 3 against Central Missouri State at home at Reckling Park. Last season the Blue & Gray compiled a 57-13 record and reached the semifinals of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
