Robbie Erlin will be a Texas Ranger.
The 2009 Scotts Valley High School graduate chose to forgo a full-ride athletic scholarship to California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, to play baseball for the Texas Rangers.
Erlin, who was drafted in the third round of the Major League Baseball draft, reported to Texas earlier this week to sign the contract that will pay him upwards of $410,000 this season. Erlin, 19, was the 93rd draft pick in the MLB draft, which took place in June.
The southpaw improved his draft stock with a stellar senior season for the league champion Falcons.
He compiled a 9-1 record and struck out 125 batters with a microscopic 0.34 earned-run average. At one point during the season, he pitched 45 consecutive scoreless innings, including a no-hitter.
In his final game as a Falcon in late spring, Erlin struck out 16 batters in an extra-innings loss in the Central Coast Section Playoffs.
