Georgia Tech had two players selected Friday in the major league draft, shortstop Connor Justus in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels and outfielder Matthew Gonzalez by the Braves in the sixth. The draft continued with rounds 3-10 Friday.
Justus was the 18th shortstop selected and the 156th overall. He is the first shortstop drafted from Tech since Jacob Esch in 2011, although Esch was drafted as a pitcher. Before Esch, the previous Tech shortstop to be drafted was Derek Dietrich in 2010.
Justus made significant strides at the plate this season, as he hit .324 with an on-base percentage of .442 and was named third-team All-ACC. A junior, he is expected to sign and forego his senior season. The 156th player taken in last year’s draft had a reported signing bonus of $250,000, although the two players before and after him signed for $335,400 and $315,000, respectively.
Gonzalez, a senior, was the Braves’ first local draftee and the 169th overall pick. Interestingly, the Braves tabbed him a second baseman, a position he hasn’t played since his freshman season. Gonzalez has primarily played left field and third base during his Tech career.
Gonzalez hit .378 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI, all team bests, and was named first-team All-ACC.
Should Gonzalez ultimately make the Braves’ major-league roster, he’ll be exceedingly familiar with their new home. He grew up in Cobb County and went to Harrison High. The last Tech player taken by the Braves was Kyle Wren in 2013. Wren is the son of then-Braves general manager Frank Wren. The No. 169 player in the 2015 draft signed for $250,000.
It's the 16th consecutive year that more than one Tech player has been taken in the draft. Pitcher Brandon Gold and Matthew Gorst and outfielder Kel Johnson are candidates to be selected in rounds 11-40 on Saturday.
Tech’s season ended last weekend at the Gainesville, Fla., NCAA regional.
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