SECAUCUS, N.J. – University of Maine shortstop Jeremy Pena was selected by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Pena, an America East All-Conference Second Team selection this season, was drafted 102^nd overall by the defending World Series Champions.

With the 102nd pick of the 2018 #MLBDraft, the @Astros select @MaineBaseball SS Jeremy Pena: https://t.co/I4XB50yP67 pic.twitter.com/nMOb9KqIOq

— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 5, 2018

He ranked second-best on the team in hits (66) and batting average (.308) and on-base percentage (.393), while leading UMaine in triples (5) and runs scored (50). The Providence, R.I., product was the lone Black Bears to start all in all 54 games this season, tallying 19 multi-hit games.  
 
Pena becomes the highest pick in program history since Larry Thomas was drafted with the 69th overall pick in 1991 by the Chicago White Sox.
 
He becomes the first player drafted from UMaine since Mike Fransoso (809^th overall) and Mike Connolly (822^nd overall) were both selected in the 27^th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
 
Stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com for updates on the MLB Draft.
 
-UMaine-