Augustana University Athletics

Salmela was an All-North Central Conference choice in 2001 and 2002. He was also named to the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-North Central Region team in 2001. His Augustana achievements include eighth-highest career on-base percentage (.459) and ninth for most runs scored in a career (132). He is sixth in career hits (185) and sixth in career doubles (40). Salmela, who clubbed 22 career home runs with Augustana and drove in 145 runs, was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 31st round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. He had stints with Sioux City of the Northern League and the Class A Tri-City Cats.