JA
Josh Altmann
  • Math Education
  • Lockport, Illinois

Texas Rangers draft Olivet infielder Josh Altmann

2015 Jun 16

Josh Altmann, an infielder on the Olivet Nazarene University baseball team, has signed a contract to play for the Texas Rangers organization after being drafted last week in the 22nd round of this year's MLB draft.

Altmann has reported to the Arizona Rangers, the Texas Rangers' rookie affiliate in Surprise, Arizona. He just finished his junior year at Olivet and will forego his senior year.

"This moment has been a dream come true for me since I started playing the game," Altmann said. He is the son of Walter and Carole Altmann. "From here, I look to continue with the hard work and to run with this opportunity. I don't lose focus that there is still a ways to go in the organization, but I am going to put in the work."

As the 648th MLB draft pick, the Rangers selected Altmann as their 22nd pick, just past the midway point in the 40-round draft. He was the 17th of 40 players drafted from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) conference and one of three drafted from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC).

Altmann is the second ONU Tiger drafted in the past three MLB drafts. In 2013, the Cleveland Indians selected Ben Heller. He plays for the Lynchburg Hillcats, Cleveland's A+ farm team in Lynchburg, Virginia. Another former Tiger, Ben Zobrist -- drafted by the Houston Astros in 2004 -- is a member of the Oakland Athletics.

In Altmann's junior season as an Olivet Tiger, he batted .432, finishing eighth in batting average and 38th in slugging percentage in the NAIA. He started all 50 Tiger games, played every infield position and was named to the CCAC All-Conference Team for a second time.

After three years as a Tiger, Altmann ranks fifth all-time in batting average (.386) with 174 hits, a .499 slugging percentage, a .479 on-base percentage and 62 stolen bases.

"I am thrilled for Josh. It is very difficult to draw attention from scouts, and even more so as a positional player," said Todd Reid, head baseball coach at Olivet. "Teams have to see you multiple times, and there is pressure on each at-bat. Josh played above the pressure and had an incredible year. He was about team first and himself second. We won't have him back for his senior year, but Josh is already making plans to finish his degree along the way. He is and always will be a Tiger."