Justin Maese on the field. Photo from Ysleta High School / Facebook
Justin Maese, a young member of the Tigua Tribe of Texas, has been drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. Maese, 18, just graduated from Ysleta High School in El Paso. He was selected by Toronto in the 3rd round of the draft on Tuesday. "Maese is another example of a pitcher who moved up the draft boards this year after experiencing an increase in velocity," Major League Baseball said in a draft video about the talented pitcher. "Scouts had him hitting 96 mph with his fastball and 86 mph on his slider, but he often had trouble maintaining that velocity deep into games."
Justin Maese was named "Mr. Baseball" by the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in April. Photo from Ysleta High School / Facebook
Maese joins a small group of tribal members in the majors. There's -- Joba Chamberlain, a member of the Winnebago Tribe who plays for the Detroit Tigers; Jacoby Ellsbury, a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, who plays for the New York Yankees; and Kyle Lohse, a member of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, who plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. Get the Story:
Ysleta pitcher Justin Maese drafted by Toronto Blue Jays (KVIA 6/9)
Ysleta's Justin Maese taken in third round of Major League Baseball Draft (The El Paso Times 6/9)
Justin Maese hopes to be picked early in MLB Draft (The El Paso Times 6/9)
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