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Six Georgia baseball players selected in 2016 MLB Draft

By Justin Hubbard

Apr 16, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; The glove and bat of Toronto Blue Jays first base coach Tim Leiper (34) rests on the grass prior to a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; The glove and bat of Toronto Blue Jays first base coach Tim Leiper (34) rests on the grass prior to a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The annual MLB Draft wrapped up yesterday, and Georgia saw six of its players taken by pro teams.

Related Story: A look at Nick Chubb’s UGA career

Robert Tyler was the first Diamond Dog drafted, as the Colorado Rockies picked him up Thursday in the first round. The Houston Astros drafted Stephen Wrenn in the sixth round the next day. When Saturday rolled around, Georgia’s roster took a bigger hit.

Rising senior pitcher Connor Jones was the first Diamond Dog taken off the board Saturday afternoon when the New York Yankees picked him in the 11th round (338th overall). Jones’ draft stock rose after he became a dependable starter this past season.

Jones was Georgia’s No. 2 man in the pitching rotation behind Tyler and was impressive more often than not. He struck out 74 men and only walked 37, and held opponents to a .242 batting average.

The Los Angeles Angels swiped rising junior Bo Tucker in the next round. The Rome, Georgia, native was one of Georgia’s best relievers in his two years with the team. Tucker’s career earned run average was 3.09.

He was good enough this past season to get four starts later into the season. Tucker was previously selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 38th round of the 2014 draft.

Skyler Weber’s draft stock rocketed with his showing this past season. The right fielder led Georgia’s offense with a .314 batting average after previously posting averages of .261 and .245 in his freshman and sophomore seasons. His hard work paid off when the Oakland A’s drafted him in the 18th round (532nd overall).

Weber had more hits in 2016 than any other Diamond Dog (77), and he stole 13 bases, hit four home runs and drove in 33 runs. If he continues to blossom at the plate and his defense remains as reliable as it has been – he holds a .982 career fielding percentage – then Weber could end up being a big steal in this draft.

Heath Holder was the final active Georgia player drafted. Holder, who was drafted by the Rockies in the 50th round out of high school five years ago, was scooped up again by Colorado. This time, Holder was a 25th-round draftee.

Holder had a tumultuous time in Athens, as he went through position changes and a Tommy John surgery, which forced him to take a redshirt to make him a fifth-year senior this past season. Holder floated between the starting rotation to the bullpen in 2016.

By the end of the season, it appeared Holder would be best suited as a reliever. The Rockies are certainly high on him, given that they’ve now drafted him twice, so it’ll be interesting to see if they will give him a shot at earning a starting spot.

These Diamond Dogs headlined Georgia’s involvement in the 2016 draft, but three signees also heard their names called. Justin Glover, Cam Shepherd and Zac Kristofak were all drafted in later rounds.

Georgia’s recent string of up-and-down seasons – and the fact that next year’s squad will be very young – will likely mean all of Georgia’s active players decide to jump to the professional ranks. Holder is the only one who can’t return to the Diamond Dogs, though.

All of the draftees have until July 15 to sign with their respective teams.

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