June 4, 2002

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern senior right-handed pitcher Gabe Ribas (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) was chosen as the 415th overall pick today by the San Diego Padres in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. The MLB draft began Tuesday and continues the next two days.

"I'm really excited for this opportunity," said Ribas. "I can't wait to get back on the field and prove myself at the professional level. This is one of the best feelings I have ever felt-it is truly indescribable."

The senior right-handed pitcher was the 14th player chosen by the Padres, and it marked the eighth straight year a Wildcat hurler was drafted. Ribas also became the 35th Wildcat to be drafted in the 15-year tenure of head coach Paul Stevens, 18 of whom are pitchers. Ribas also continues a streak that has seen at least one player picked in every one of Stevens years as a head coach.

"It could not have happened to a better guy," said Stevens. "Gabe deserves to be headed to the next level."

As a four-year starter for the 'Cats, Ribas wrapped up his career in stellar fashion by being named to the 2002 Big Ten All-Tournament team. At the Big Ten Tourney, he threw 10 and two-third innings, gave up two runs and struck out 11. He pitched eight-plus innings in NU's 4-2, opening-round win over the Big Ten's leading offensive team, Michigan State. Ribas also threw a complete-game 4-1 win over Indiana in the regular-season series finale, propelling NU into the postseason tourney.

This season, Ribas finished fourth in the conference in strikeouts with 94, which is also the fourth-best total in school history for a single season. Ribas led the squad with an astounding 6.3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, walking just 15 hitters in 89.1 innings of work.

For his career, Ribas finished second on the career strikeout (288) and innings pitched (330.1) lists, making 51 starts. Those 51 starts include 19 complete games and constitute the second most starts in NU history.