The first day of the Major League Baseball draft was hardly an eventful one for Auburn baseball fans.
Thursday’s action featured the first six rounds of the 50-round draft, totaling 202 picks. No current Auburn player — and only one of the Tigers’ incoming signees — was selected.
Left-hander Tyler Stovall of Hokes Bluff, who signed with AU in November, was taken in the second round by the Atlanta Braves. Stovall, the 64th overall pick, is likely to sign a professional contract with the Braves instead of playing for Auburn.
High-school seniors, juniors and seniors at four-year colleges and all junior-college players are eligible for the draft.
The draft continues with 44 rounds today. Among the current Auburn players expected to receive draft interest in today’s rounds are slugger Mike Bianucci, relievers Evan Crawford and Bryan Woodall, right-hander Luke Greinke and shortstop Matt Hall.
Right-hander Taylor Thompson, a draft-eligible sophomore, might also be drafted.
Bianucci is the top prospect of the current Tigers. He hit 35 homers in his AU career, including 13 last season. He was a 23rd-round pick as a draft-eligible sophomore last season.
Alabama football signee Destin Hood of St. Paul’s was selected in the second round Thursday, No. 55 overall, by the Washington Nationals.
Former Auburn player Justin Bristow, who transferred to East Carolina before the start of the 2008 season, was selected in the fifth round by the Chicago Cubs. Bristow, the No. 161 overall pick, spent two seasons at AU.
A top prospect when he signed with AU in 2005, Bristow was the Tigers’ everyday shortstop as a freshman, but struggled offensively. He spent most of his sophomore season as a pitcher, but never found a comfort zone there, finishing 1-6 with a 9.30 ERA.
At ECU, Bristow flourished as a starting pitcher: He was 9-2 with a 3.07 ERA, 84 strikeouts and just 27 walks.
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| Date | Opponent | Time | Result | |
|
08/30 |
vs. Louisiana-Monroe |
6 |
34-0 | |
|
9/06 |
vs. Southern Miss |
11:30 |
||
|
9/13 |
at Mississippi St |
6:00 |
||
|
9/20 |
vs. LSU |
TBA |
||
|
9/27 |
vs. Tennessee |
TBA |
||
|
10/04 |
at Vanderbilt |
TBA |
||
|
10/11 |
vs. Arkansas |
TBA |
||
|
10/23 |
at West Virginia |
6:30 |
||
|
11/01 |
at Mississippi |
TBA |
||
|
11/08 |
vs. Tenn-Martin(HC) |
1:30 |
||
|
11/15 |
vs. Georgia |
TBA |
||
|
11/29 |
at Alabama |
TBA |