Two more juniors with Kentucky ties selected in MLB Draft. See where they’re headed.
Two more players with ties to the state of Kentucky were selected in the Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday night.
University of Louisville junior Zach Britton became the third Cardinal to hear his name called in this year’s draft when he was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays with the No. 136 overall pick in the fifth round. The 6-foot-1 outfielder was enjoying a breakout campaign when the season was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As one of three players to start all 17 of Louisville’s games this season, Britton batted .322 with 12 RBI and led all Division I players with 11 doubles. He had three hits and three RBI in Louisville’s final game, a 13-3 victory over Chicago State.
According to MLB’s draft slot values, which dictate how much money teams can spend signing their draft picks based on where they were selected, Britton’s first contract will be worth around $410,000.
Bellarmine junior Brandon Pfaadt was drafted No. 149 overall in the fifth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Louisville native and Trinity High School graduate anchored the Knights’ pitching rotation this season, going 3-1 with a 1.38 earned run average and 27 strikeouts in five appearances, totaling 26 innings. The 6-foot-4 right-hander stands to earn around $360,000 from his first professional contract.
Three players with Kentucky ties were drafted in Wednesday night’s first round. Louisville junior left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers was selected No. 10 overall by the the Los Angeles Angels. The 20-year-old was the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-American as a sophomore in 2019 and this season moved up to No. 4 on Louisville’s career strikeout list.
Detmers’ teammate was the final pick of the first round. U of L junior right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller was selected 29th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers after striking out 34 batters in 23 innings and posting a 2.31 earned run average this season.
Duke University junior right-handed pitcher Bryce Jarvis was the No. 18 overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s the 22-year-old son of Lexington native and Tates Creek graduate Kevin Jarvis, who played 12 MLB seasons. Bryce Jarvis in February pitched the first perfect game in Duke history and 31st in NCAA history.
The draft was shortened to five rounds from its usual 40 this year because of the pandemic.
Click here to view every pick from the 2020 MLB Draft.
Reds draft picks
Round 1, No. 12: Austin Hendrick, CF, West Allegheny High School (Pa.)
Round 2, No. 48: Christian Roa, RHP, Texas A&M
Compensatory round B: Jackson Miller, C, J.W. Mitchell High School (Fla.)
Round 3, No. 84: Bryce Bonnin, RHP, Texas Tech
Round 4, No. 113: Mac Wainwright, OF, St. Edward High School (Ohio)
Round 5, No. 143: Joe Boyle, RHP, Notre Dame
Royals draft picks
Round 1, No. 4: Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M
Compensatory round A: Nick Loftin, SS, Baylor
Round 2, No. 41: Ben Hernandez, RHP, De La Salle (Ill.)
Round 3, No. 76: Tyler Gentry, OF, Alabama
Round 4, No. 105: Christian Chamberlain, LHP, Oregon State
Round 5, No. 135: Will Klein, RHP, Eastern Illinois
