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Justin Stiver became the first Florida Gulf Coast University player ever taken in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft when Houston snatched the junior pitcher with its 17th-round pick, 519th overall, during Tuesday's first of the two-day process.

And it's all but a certainty that the Englewood native will take a crack with the Astros rather than return to the Eagles next season.

"Well, you know, I told myself — I haven't talked about any contracts or anything — if I got drafted on the first day of the draft ... " said Stiver, minutes after his selection. "Yeah, right now, unofficially, I think I'll go ahead and say, 'Yes.'"

FGCU coach Dave Tollett understands where Stiver is coming from although he'll hate to see him go.

"He's excited," Tollett said. "That's a dream for every kid, you know? It's an awesome feeling. He's our first one.

"He's been up front the whole time. We knew right from the start this year (that Stiver was thinking pro) and we went out and tried to replace him (through recruiting) because we knew there was a good chance that the kid wanted to sign."

A 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander, Stiver transfered after two uneventful seasons at the University of Florida. Because of a shoulder injury, Stiver did not play last season. This season, he became the Eagles' ace after a shoulder injury benched, then slowed, fellow junior Chris Hassen in March. Stiver racked up a 6-5 record with a 3.81 ERA and 76 strikeouts for FGCU's first NCAA Division II regional team.

• EAGLES WATCH: The names of Hassen and seniors Jason Louwsma (third base) and Ryan Williams, of Estero, could be called during today's draft sessions, which begin with the 19th round."I know we'll have one for sure (today)," said Tollett of Louwsma. "I got some calls (from MLB representatives). I'm telling him not to panic."