The Citadel’s Jackson selected in fifth round by Texas Rangers
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Citadel catcher Joe Jackson has been selected by the Texas Rangers in the fifth round (160th overall pick) of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Jackson is the first position player taken from The Citadel since catcher Bryan Altman was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2010. The last position player taken higher than Jackson was third baseman Dallas McPherson, who went to the Angels in the second round in 2001.
He is the 28th Bulldog drafted since Fred Jordan became head coach in 1992. McPherson and pitcher Britt Reames, now an assistant coach at The Citadel, both had careers in the major leagues. In addition to those two, first baseman Chris McGuiness, a 13th-round pick by the Red Sox in 2009, is scheduled to make his major league debut Friday night, coincidentally with the Rangers.
Jackson was the second player drafted from a Southern Conference school. Samford outfielder Phillip Ervin went to the Reds in the first round with the 27th overall pick.
Jackson enjoyed an outstanding junior season that included a berth on the All-SoCon first team, Most Outstanding Player accolades at the conference tournament and a spot on the Louisville Slugger All-America third team as selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Jackson was ranked in the top 10 in the SoCon and top 40 in the nation in 10 statistical categories prior to the start of the NCAA tournament, including second in the league and 25th nationally with a final batting average of .386, a mark that rose 23 points when he went 10-for-13 in The Citadel's run to the championship game of the conference tournament.
He had three doubles, a triple, a game-winning home run against Appalachian State, eight runs scored and five RBIs as the Bulldogs won their first three tournament games before dropping a narrow 6-5 decision to Elon in the championship game. Jackson reached base in all but two plate appearances.
The Mauldin, S.C., native led the SoCon and was 11th nationally in on-base percentage (.495) and was second in the conference and eighth in the country in both runs scored (66) and RBIs (67).
Jackson's other top statistical marks included 88 hits (third in SoCon, 17th in nation); 19 doubles (3, 39); 43 walks (3, 28); 150 total bases (4, 9); a .658 slugging percentage (4, 16); and 13 home runs (6, 24).
Jackson was particularly hot over the final 14 games of the season, in which he went 28-for-48 (.583) with 26 runs scored and 26 RBIs, raising his batting average from .333 to its final mark. That performance earned him the SoCon Player of the Month award for May and increased his stock heading into this week's draft.
Furman’s Smith selected by Los Angeles Angels in eighth round
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman pitcher Nate Smith has been selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday.
Smith was the 21st pick in the eighth round and 247th overall selection. He is the highest round Furman draft selection since catcher Don Leege went in the eighth round to the San Diego Padres in 1972.
In overall terms, he is the highest Paladin draft pick since shortstop Ron Smith, Furman’s current head coach, was the 230th overall selection (ninth round) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1977.
In 17 starts on the mound this year, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior left-hander posted a 7-4 record with a 3.59 ERA in helping the Paladins to a 32-25 overall record and sixth-place finish in the Southern Conference. In 100 1/3 innings of work, he allowed 104 hits and 50 runs, including 40 earned. He recorded 98 strikeouts and surrendered 34 walks. Opponents hit .269 against him.
The West Chester, Ohio, product was named SoCon Player of the Week on March 11 after working 7 2/3 innings to get the victory in a 3-1 win over defending SoCon champion Appalachian State. He also recorded wins over Davidson (7-1), Presbyterian (8-3), SoCon regular-season champion Western Carolina (9-2), UNCG (13-7) and Dayton (19-3) and a SoCon tournament first-round decision over Elon (10-1), the eventual champion and NCAA Regional qualifier.
Smith, who notched a 15-15 career record at Furman, ranks among program season leaders in starts (17/2nd), innings pitched (100.1/7th), strikeouts (98/3rd), and strikeouts per nine innings (8.59/9th), and appears in a number of career top-10 categories, including starts (43/T5th), innings pitched (265.1/9th) and strikeouts (216/7th).
He is the third SoCon player chosen in the 2013 MLB Draft behind Cincinnati Reds first-round selection Philip Ervin (OF) of Samford and Texas Rangers fifth-round pick Joe Jackson (C) of The Citadel.
College of Charleston’s Zokan taken by Seattle Mariners in ninth round
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston senior left-handed pitcher Jake Zokan was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the ninth round (267 overall) of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
A native of Columbia, S.C., Zokan led the Cougars’ pitching staff in 2013 with a 2.85 ERA and a 4-3 record. He recorded a team-high 80 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched and allowed just 15 walks. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.33 ranked 32nd in the nation and second in the SoCon behind teammate Matt Pegler.
Bolstered by Zokan’s efforts in the starting rotation, the Cougar pitching staff led the Southern Conference in ERA (2.40), opposing batting average (.264) and fewest walks allowed (167).
Zokan’s final career outing was a gem in a pitcher’s duel defeat in the SoCon tournament against Georgia Southern. He allowed just two runs on a home run in the first inning but then recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts and no more runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Despite missing most of the 2012 season with an injury, Zokan finished his career with an ERA of 3.95 and an 11-6 record.
Zokan’s selection in the ninth round by the Mariners marks the fourth consecutive season, and eighth in the last 11, that College of Charleston has had a player drafted in the first 10 rounds of the MLB Draft.
The MLB Draft continues with rounds 11-40 on Saturday. Live draft coverage is available on MLB.com.
Samford’s Irby picked by Minnesota Twins in 10th round
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford junior pitcher and designated hitter C.K. Irby was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday afternoon.
Irby is the second Samford player to be taken so far in this year’s draft. Center fielder Phillip Ervin was taken in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday evening.
Irby had the best season of his career as a junior in 2013. Irby led the team with a .383 batting average, 16 doubles and 59 RBIs. Irby ranked in the top five in the Southern Conference in batting average, hits, triples and RBIs.
He also had a strong season on the mound for the Bulldogs. Irby posted a 4.14 ERA, 90 strikeouts and a 7-6 record. He pitched three complete games and posted one shutout this season.
For his Samford career, Irby has a .344 batting average and has driven in 109 runs. He also has 31 doubles, eighth triples and 13 home runs in his three seasons in a Samford uniform.
As a pitcher, Irby has a career record of 17-9 with a 3.29 ERA. He also has tallied 10 saves, and has held opposing batters to just a .218 average.