LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Junior Daniel Johnson was selected by the Washington Nationals in the fifth round as the 154th overall pick in the 2016 MLB First Year Player Draft on Friday. He is the 38th player drafted in program history, and the highest since Luke Hopkins was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round as the 150th overall pick. Friday also marked the second-straight season a NM State player has been drafted, the first time since the 2012-2013 drafts.
 
"I am extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity," Johnson said. "This not a chance everybody gets and I will not let it go to waste."
 
After a breakout junior season, the Vallejo, Calif. native was named the 2016 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year by the league's 10 head coaches. He was also named First Team All-WAC and to the WAC All-Tournament Team. Johnson also garnered his share of national accolades as he earned Louisville Slugger National Hitter of the Week and NCBWA National Hitter of the Month honors.
 
As a part of one of the largest turnarounds in college baseball in 2016, Johnson finished his 2016 campaign nationally ranked fourth in hits (94), fifth in runs scored (67), 16th in stolen bases (29-of-33), 32nd in batting average (.382) and 40th in slugging percentage (.630).  Additionally, he led the WAC in batting average, hits, home runs, stolen bases and runs scored.
 
A three-time WAC Hitter of the Week, Johnson's most impressive performance of the season was in a conference series against Sacramento State, where he went 10-for-15 at the plate and belted four home runs, driving in 13 runs.
 
During a seven-game homestand to close out the home regular season, Johnson hit a home run in five straight games. He finished the season with three multi-home run games.
 
"One of our three goals we have as a coaching staff in developing this program are to recruit and develop players," Head Coach Brian Green said. "To see D.J. go from a guy who was sent to a junior college and recruited here as a pitcher to becoming one of the premier centerfielders in the country is a credit to him and how hard he has worked. We couldn't be prouder for him, because he has earned that draft status."