Page 14 Alabama Ledger Alabama Baseball has five selected in 2021 MLB Draft Read Free Online at AlabamaLedger.com August 2021 - E-Edition
The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft wrapped up with a total of five current University of Alabama student-athletes from the 2020-21 roster hearing their name called. Those five joined two Crimson Tide signees to make up a group of seven that were selected across the three- day event last month. The group of five 2021 current Crimson Tide student-athletes to be selected in this year’s Draft includes Peyton Wilson (Kansas City Royals, 2nd Round), Dylan Smith (Detroit Tigers, 3rd Round), Chase Lee (Texas Rangers, 6th Round), Sam Praytor (Miami Marlins, Auburn Duo Selected in NBA Draft Auburn’s Men's Basketball stars Sharife Cooper and JT Thor both were chosen in the 2021 NBA Draft. Thor was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 37th overall selection, while Cooper was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 48 pick. The Tigers have now had four players drafted in the last three seasons under head coach Bruce Pearl. These players include Cooper, Thor, and first- round selections Chuma Okeke (No. 16 in 2019) and Isaac Okoro (No. 5 in 2020). Auburn’s four draftees since 2019 matches the program’s total number of selections from the previous 25 years.
6th Round) and Tyler Ras (Colorado Rockies, 14th Round). Alabama’s four picks through the first six rounds are the most by any single Crimson Tide roster in programhistory and tiewith the 1983 team for the most picks through the first 10 rounds of any MLB Draft. In addition, Alabama’s five total selections across the first 15 rounds tie the 2015 team for the most over that stretch in program history. The Crimson Tide’s five total selections in the 2021 Draft increased UA’s all-time draft pick total to 164 (154 players) since the event began in 1966. Alabama has now had at least one player selected
in 43 consecutive years dating back to 1979 and 50 of the 56 MLB drafts overall. More recently, the Tide has seen 56 players selected in the last 12 years and 91 total across the last 22 drafts dating back to 2000. In addition to the current players, signees Noah Miller (Minnesota Twins, 1st Round) and Luke Holman (Toronto Blue Jays, 20th Round) were each selected in the 20-round event. All players have remaining eligibility and are able to return to the University to continue their careers at Alabama if they elect to not sign a professional contract.
University of Alabama Pitcher Tyler Ras was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Photo Courtesy of Crimson Tide Athletics
Hartselle native drafted by Chicago Jacksonville State's Christian Edwards was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2021 MLB Draft. Edwards was taken by the American League club in the 11th round. With Edwards' selection, JSU has had a draft pick in the amateur draft in four of the last five seasons and is the program's first draftee since the New York Mets claimed Nic Gaddis in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Edwards also becomes Jax State's 66th player to be selected by one of MLB's organizations. He becomes the third Gamecock picked by the White Sox, joining former players Todd Altaffer (1990) and Roger Mayo (1975). Edwards, regarded as one of the top pitchers in the Ohio Valley Conference, finished 2021 with the second- best earned run average in the league at 2.48. He led the conference in ERA against league opposition with a 2.02 mark, earning him a spot on the All-OVC First Team. He was also named to the 2021 Southeast-American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region Second Team. The Hartselle, Alabama native made the move from closers role to JSU's Friday night starter in 2021. The Hartselle, Alabama right hander made 12 appearances on the season with 11 starts. Edwards accumulated 83 strikeouts in 69.0 innings on the season. He posted a 5-2 record, including three wins against OVC foes. Edwards allowed 19 earned runs and opposing batters hit .175 against him in 2021.
Submitted Photo
Collinsvillle Volleyball Team The Collinsville Volleyball team has been preparing for the upcoming 2021 season. The group recently took time for a photo. The team members include: Front Row: (L-R) #5 Sophia Wills, #3 Sydney Skelton, #2 Kayla Beene, #0 Andrea Wainwright, #14 Nyjaa Rooks, #12 Daisy Barrientos, #11 Fabiola Mendoza; Back Row: (L-R) Head Coach Tanya Ford, #9 Gracie Griggs, #1 Tyla Tatum #7 Destini Jones, #10 Rylee Tillery, #12 Jasmin Vargas, and Asst. Coach Robin Potter.
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