Three Georgia Tech players were selected on the third and final day of the major league draft, making it a total of seven Yellow Jackets selected. That’s the most that Tech has had since its seven-man draft class of 2013.
Outfielder Chase Murray was selected in the 13th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitcher Amos Willingham was taken in the 17th round by the Washington Nationals and infielder Luke Waddell was drafted in the 32nd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The three third-day selections followed four on the second day – first baseman Tristin English in the third round to Arizona, catcher Kyle McCann in the fourth round to the Oakland Athletics, pitcher Connor Thomas to the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth round and pitcher Xzavion Curry to the Cleveland Indians in the seventh.
All of the draftees except for Waddell are expected to sign and turn professional. Waddell, a draft-eligible sophomore, is expected to return to Tech for his junior season.
Murray started as a freshman and sophomore, hitting .343 as sophomore with a .410 on-base percentage to earn second-team All-ACC honors. He was in the lineup again this season before an injury sidelined him and then the play of right fielder Baron Radcliff kept him on the bench. Willingham had an 8-2 record with a 5.19 ERA in his one season with the Jackets. He came to Tech after two seasons in junior college.
Waddell hit .322 with a .436 on-base percentage and played solid shortstop for the Jackets. He can also play second and third base.
Two members of Tech’s incoming freshman class were drafted – pitcher Zachary Maxwell from North Paulding High (30th round by the New York Yankees) and outfielder Tres Gonzalez of Mount Vernon Presbyterian School (37th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers). There were several other members of the class who were listed as draft candidates on MLB.com who were not drafted, perhaps in part because they had indicated their intention to enroll at Tech.
Major league teams have until July 12 to sign draftees, other than those who were college seniors.
