Naughton picked on second day of MLB Draft

Lefty pitcher is the seventh-highest Tech draft choice since 2000

June 13, 2017

BLACKSBURG – During the second day of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Virginia Tech pitcher Packy Naughton was selected in the ninth round by the Cincinnati Reds with the 257th overall pick to become the 18th highest Hokie ever chosen in the MLB Draft.

The junior lefthander from West Roxbury, Massachusetts is the fourth Hokie to be picked by the Reds in draft history, which includes three other pitchers as well – Doug Horton (358th pick, 1971 draft), Greg Margheim (652, 1990) and Eddie Campbell (1,327, 2010 out of high school).

Since former Tech pitcher Joe Saunders – a 10-year MLB veteran – was the highest ever pick from the school, the 12th overall pick by the Anaheim Angels in the 2002 draft, the Hokies have seen just five of its players chosen earlier in the draft than Naughton’s 257th selection in 2017.

Those men include current Oakland Athletics Chad Pinder (71st pick, 2013 draft) and Jesse Hahn (191, 2010), current triple-A player Mark Zagunis (78, 2014), current double-A player Tyler Horan (252, 2013) and former triple-A player Austin Wates (90, 2010).

For more information on the Hokies’ history in the draft, CLICK HERE.

The 2017 draft will continue with rounds 11-40 on Wednesday, June 14 starting at Noon with the Hokies looking to see another player’s name called to continue a streak of having at least two players selected in each of the last nine drafts.

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