Minnesota Drafts Loyola’s Ibarra in Fifth Round

Loyola Marymount sophomore Jesse Ibarra was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of Thursday’s major league baseball draft.

Although he was a pitcher, designated hitter, third baseman and outfielder for Loyola, Ibarra was drafted as a right fielder. He was eligible to be drafted as a sophomore because he will turn 21 on July 12.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Ibarra batted .299 with 17 home runs and 52 runs batted in last season and was 2-1 with four saves and a 3.41 earned-run average in 34 innings pitched.

“The Twins have a really good reputation and record,” Ibarra said. “I wanted to be drafted as a hitter. I’m just really excited.”

Loyola Coach Jody Robinson said the Twins knew before the draft what kind of money Ibarra was looking for, so their chances of signing him might be good.

“We’d like to have him back,” Robinson said. “I think it would help him to go to school one more year. There will be more interest next year.”

Ibarra, who led the West Coast Conference in home runs and RBIs, said he is unsure if he will sign with the Twins or return to Loyola.

“I don’t know yet,” he said. “I still have to talk with some people, but being drafted in the first five rounds was something I was looking at.”

Twin scout Earl Frishman noticed Ibarra in August at the National Baseball Congress tournament in Wichita, Kan., where he hit three home runs in one game using a wooden bat.

Ibarra, who attended Bosco Tech High in Rosemead, was not drafted out of high school.