UNM’s Mack Chambers, Justin Armbruester taken in MLB Draft
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BVM) — A pair of New Mexico baseball players were given the opportunity to take their games to the big leagues earlier this week. Shortstop Mack Chambers and right-handed pitcher Justin Armbruester were both selected on the third and final day of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.
Chambers, who wrapped up his sophomore season with the Lobos this past spring, was taken in the 11th round (331st overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals while Armbruester, a 2021 UNM grad, was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles — 16 picks after Chambers — in the 12th round (347th).
The switch-hitting Chambers has played only one season at UNM after transferring from Seminole State Community College (Okla.), but he made a big impact as the only Lobo to play every game this past spring. Chambers batted .371 (second-best on the team) and tied for sixth in the Mountain West Conference in doubles (16) and 10th in slugging percentage (.624), collecting 26 extra-base hits in 41 games. Chambers, named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list in April, was also drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 11th round of the 2019 draft before deciding to attend UNM instead of signing a pro contract.
Armbruester was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Year in June after being the ace of the Lobos’ pitching staff this past season. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound righty recorded a 3.58 ERA and struck out 101 batters in 78 innings pitched with 17 of those punchouts coming in UNM’s 1-0, 10-inning victory over Fresno State on March 14. The Sammamish, Wash., native recorded eight or more strikeouts in nine of his 13 starts.
