Yellow Jacked Up
Fansided

Georgia Tech Baseball: Ryan, Peurifoy selected late in 2017 MLB Draft

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball and glove prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball and glove prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

RHP Zac Ryan and OF Ryan Peurifoy were selected late in the 2017 MLB Draft on Wednesday.

Right-handed pitcher Zac Ryan and outfielder Ryan Peurifoy will have the chance to live out their dreams as professional ballplayers. The two Yellow Jackets were selected late on Wednesday on the final day of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Ryan, a Valparaiso, Indiana native was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 23rd round on Wednesday. Peurifoy, a native of Peachtree City was selected in the 38th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Both players are seniors and will have to make the decision whether or not to continue their baseball careers with their respective organizations.

Ryan and Peurifoy join Trevor Craport as the only Yellow Jackets selected in this year’s MLB Draft.

RHP Zac Ryan: Los Angeles Angels – 23rd round (685th) 

Ryan, a reliever for most of his time at Georgia Tech saw time over the course of 89 appearances in his four seasons. In those 89 appearances, the Indiana native posted a 4.65 ERA over the course of 166.1 innings pitched. In 2017, he posted a career high in ERA (3.33) and strikeouts (42) over the course of 46.0 innings and 27 relief appearances.

If Ryan continues his career with the Angels, his ability to have command will help determine his success. At Tech he struggled at times finishing with 69 career walks and 135 strikeouts. While the ratio isn’t terrible, it isn’t exactly desirable either.

OF Ryan Peurifoy: Pittsburgh Pirates – 38th round (1,138th)

A mainstay over his career in Georgia Tech’s lineup, Peurifoy used a quality senior season to help boost his draft stock after a dismal junior season in 2016. The Pittsburgh draftee hit .295/.366/.465 in 2017 to go along with seven home runs and 33 RBI.

Peurifoy’s seven home runs were more than he had throughout his first three years that totaled up to five home runs. The additional power that Peurifoy added in 2017 without a doubt added to his draft stock which took a significant hit after batting just .237 in 2016. His junior season batting average was almost full 100 points less than his sophomore average of .324.

Most late round draft picks like Peurifoy often don’t end up making it far into the professional careers but there are quite the number of success stories. Hopefully, Peurifoy is one of those future success stories.