Alex Mejia shares a light moment with an umpire during the championship series of the College World Series. Photo by Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE
Former Arizona Wildcats shortstop Alex Mejia, not quite 100 at-bats into his professional career, suffered a torn ACL on Monday night.
Mejia, playing for the Class A Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League, was a fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, the highest of five Wildcats selected in this summer’s draft.
Mejia was injured when beating out an errant throw to first base and “was forced to make a contorted move” around the first baseman, according to a story from The Daily News in Batavia, N.Y. Mejia was carted off the field.
He hit .250 with one home run in 23 games for Batavia after helping lead the Wildcats to the College World Series championship.
Mejia hit .357 for Arizona, earning Pac-12 Player of the Year and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. Mejia dazzled with the glove in the postseason, making plays behind second base and deep in the hole, even earning a spot on SportsCenter’s Plays of the Day.
Coach Andy Lopez never hesitated to praise him, especially for his passion and love of the game.
“His intangibles are off the charts,” Lopez said late in the season.
The 22-year old Mejia now faces a rehab of several months, one that could last into the start of next season.
#Cardinals fourth-round pick Alex Mejia tore his ACL Monday night with Batavia and will miss the remainder of the season, 9 months minimum.— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) August 2, 2012
Alex Mejia flips to Trent Gilbert to start a key double play in the first inning of Game 1 of the CWS championship series. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images