The 2019 MLB Draft has seen three Yellow Jackets taken in the top five rounds including catcher Kyle McCann and LHP Connor Thomas.
Earlier on Tuesday, Georgia Tech’s Tristin English was drafted in the third round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. English was the first Jacket selected in this year’s MLB Draft. The two-way star for the Jackets started a quality run of Jackets to go off the draft boards on Tuesday.
In the next round, the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft, junior catcher Kyle McCann was selected by the Oakland Atheltics. It’s the second straight year that the Jackets sent a catcher to the Bay Area, as Joey Bart of course was drafted by the San Francisco Giants last year. The lefty hit .299 with a team-leading 23 home runs in 221 total at bats this season. McCann also led the team in walks, strikeouts, and total plate appearances.
In the fifth round, left handed pitcher Connor Thomas was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Junior left-hander compiled a record of 9-2 in 16 total starts with a 3.11 ERA. He had 103 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 113 innings pitched. Opponents had a batting average of .265 against him this season.
The trio of draft picks were the core of a Georgia Tech team that secured a record of 43-18 overall record with a 19-11 ACC Record, good enough to secure the #3 seed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Jackets were bounded our of the tournament in their regional but the season still should be considered a great success.
It will be interesting to see how the Jackets replace the trio. Kyle McCann and Connor Thomas were both also named 2nd Team All ACC with Thomas being a two-time ACC pitcher of the week