Monday, June 14, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Ex-Rebels outfielder Nielsen agrees to deal with Blue Jays

Jordan Parraz from CCSN signs with Astros

By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

An academic scholarship allowed Eric Nielsen a chance to attend UNLV and walk on with the baseball team. Now, four years later, the circumstances are reversed.

Nielsen, a redshirt junior outfielder, said Sunday he's walking away from school and has agreed to a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that includes a $50,000 signing bonus.

Nielsen hit .402 with 16 home runs and 87 RBIs to lead the Rebels to a 37-24 record. He was the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and a first-team All-America pick.

His accomplishments at UNLV far exceeded his expectations.

"I just wanted to make the team. That was my first goal. My second goal was to be an everyday player," said Nielsen, who helped Silverado High School win the 2000 state championship.

"I've done almost everything I could possibly do at the college level. I'm ready to start my pro career."

Jordan Parraz, a freshman outfielder from the Community College of Southern Nevada, is also moving on with his career. The former Green Valley star was a third-round pick by the Houston Astros and said he signed for more than $300,000.

"I'm extremely happy," said Parraz, assigned to Single-A Greeneville, Tenn., of the Appalachian League. "I just wanted to get it done and start playing as fast as possible."

Nielsen, a 12th-round pick, will report to Auburn, the Blue Jays' Single-A team in the New York-Penn League.

In addition to the signing bonus, Nielsen gets $8,000 for his final year of college and another $7,500 in possible incentives for how quickly he is promoted in the minors.

Nielsen said he saw little benefit to returning for his senior year and losing negotiating leverage after next year's draft.

"I think Eric was ready," Rebels coach Buddy Gouldsmith said. "He had an unbelievable year. I'm not sure he could have had a better year. I'm not sure what he could have gained by coming back."

Nielsen was among seven UNLV players selected in last week's major league draft.

Right-hander Matt Minor, a 47th-round pick by the San Francisco Giants, was the only other junior. In a move that surprised Gouldsmith, Minor decided to sign.

He went 4-2 with a 6.84 ERA in one season with the Rebels after playing at CCSN.