Maybe draft dynasty will become a Canes baseball tradition just as it has become in football.

For the first time in school history, the Canes had three players picked in the first round of the  baseball draft.

 The first two were expected - first baseman Yonder Alonso 7th to the Twins and second baseman Jemile Weeks 12th to the A's.

 But the third was surprising. Not that closer Carlos Gutierrez hasn't been outstanding. He has - with 12 saves and a 2.70 ERA. It's just that I had not seen reports of him being a first-rounder.

 But the Twins picked him 27th, where he will join Alonso as a pro teammate - assuming they sign.

 Three more Canes were picked in the first 3 rounds:

 - right fielder Denis Raben, 66th overall to the Mariners.

 - center fielder Blake Tekotte, 101st overall to the Padres.

 - third baseman Mark Sobolewski, 129th to the Blue Jays.

 Meanwhile, the Canes' opponent in this weekend's super regional, Arizona, had two players drafted in the first round.

 Both players are hard-throwing relief pitchers - Ryan Perry and Dan Schlereth.

 In other words, as Canes Coach Jim Morris put it: Miami has to be winning by the seventh inning or "we're in big trouble."