MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's baseball's senior catcher Toby DeMello was selected with the 881^st overall pick in the 29^th round by the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday in the 2012 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.  DeMello becomes the fourth member of the 2012 squad to hear his name called during the three day draft.

"Toby is one of the top catch and throw guys in college baseball," said head coach Jedd Soto.  "He has done a great job in developing his game this year in regard to pitch calling, blocking, receiving and throwing.  Everyone stopped running against him the second half of the season.  I think he will do a great job for many years to come at the next level."

DeMello played in 50 games in 2012 for Saint Mary's, starting 47.  He hit .219 with 33 hits in 151 at bats, while scoring 17 runs, clubbing nine doubles, and driving in 13 runs.  He started the year hitting safely in 13 of the first 20 games, which included a multi-hit day against Southern Utah in which he clubbed a double, scored two runs and drove a run in.

Behind the dish, DeMello finished the year throwing out 29 of the 49 attempted base stealers, for an astounding 59% rate.  He finished tied for the lead in the conference with six pick-offs.  In 425 chances, DeMello recorded 356 put outs with 66 assists and just three errors for a .993 fielding percentage.  He was also responsible for handling two of the best pitching staffs in program history, as the Gaels set the team record of ERA in a single season under his watch in 2011 and the second best team ERA in 2012.

For his career, DeMello is a .246 hitter, going 108-for-439, he has scored 37 runs and driven in 42 with 24 doubles.  In his junior season, he hit a career-best .282, recording 48 hits in 170 at bats.

DeMello joins fellow Gaels Patrick Wisdom (52^nd pick St. Louis Cardinals), Martin Agosta (84th pick San Francisco Giants) and Kyle Barraclough (240^th pick St. Louis Cardinals) as members of the 2012 MLB draft class.