A new Sandman: Washington Nationals draft Rivera's son

WASHINGTON, June 9 (UPI) -- Fourth round draft picks don't typically make waves before spring training, but major league lineage lends itself to recognition.

The Washington Nationals selected Mariano Rivera III, a right-handed pitcher from Iona College, Tuesday with the No. 134 pick. Rivera held a 2.65 ERA and was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's pitcher of the year. Rivera was also drafted last year by the New York Yankees in the 29th round, but stayed in school.

"I can't express how excited I am right now," Rivera told Newsday. "It's a different feeling because for the first time, it's for me -- I'm no longer just a spectator supporting my father. God willing, I have the opportunity for this to be my life now. It's going to be different."

After being selected at No. 872 by the Yankees last year, Rivera was relieved to be drafted by a different team.

"That's [one] thing less to compare me to my father," Rivera told Newsday. "That's the only reason I'll be relieved, you can say, to not be a Yankee."

Rivera had a school-record 113 strikeouts this season for the Gaels.

"I just think it's fantastic," Nationals manager Matt Williams told ESPN. "I know there's a proud papa, for sure."

Rivera's father, Mariano Rivera II, had a major league-record 652 career saves, 952 games finished, and was a 13-time All-Star in 19 seasons as a member of the Yankees.