BERKELEY, Calif. – Former California Golden Bears first baseman Chris Paul was selected on Tuesday by the Minnesota Twins with the 170th overall pick in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Paul joins a pair of former teammates; pitchers Trevor Hildenberger and Michael Theofanopoulos in the Twins system, after both were selected last year in the 22nd and 30th round of the 2014 draft, respectively. This marked the eighth consecutive draft that at least one Cal player was selected, and the 46th time in the last 47 years.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be drafted,” Paul said on Tuesday. “Being rewarded for something that I have been working my whole life to achieve is awesome. I was on cloud nine and it was almost surreal. Cal and the coaching staff have definitely prepared me for everything beyond college, both in baseball and the real world alike. I can’t thank them, the fans, my family and my teammates enough for the love and support over the past four years. It has been a great opportunity and I am very grateful for that.”
Paul, an Aliso Viejo, California native, had a breakout senior season for the Bears and helped lead them back to the postseason for the first time since 2011 and to 36 victories, their second-highest win total since 1991. Paul was a first team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive team selection for the Bears in 2015. The first baseman hit .325 (ninth in the Pac-12) in 54 games, all starts for Cal with nine home runs (tied for fourth in the conference) and a team-high 45 RBI (tied for sixth in the Pac-12). He also led the team in triples with five (tied for second in the Pac-12), as well as slugging percentage (.562), which ranked him second in the conference. His 25 extra-base hits were also the most of any Golden Bear during the 2015 campaign.
“I could not be prouder of any player,” Cal head coach David Esquer said. “Chris really persevered and had a great year. There was not a better first baseman in the nation, or a better person. We are thankful for his effort and leadership during his time in Berkeley. He set a standard for others to live and play up to for years to come.”
Paul concluded his four-year career with the Bears batting .268 in 166 appearances (563 at-bats) with 18 home runs and 98 RBI. He totaled 12 stolen bases, 28 doubles and seven triples for the Bears, spending time at multiple positions. Paul was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week twice in 2015 after huge weeks against the Oregon Ducks (March 13-15) and USC Trojans (May 16-18).
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