LSU accomplishes a first in 2017 MLB draft
The final day of the major league baseball draft went by rather uneventfully for the LSU baseball program.
The only Tigers players selected were two pitchers, who are not on the postseason roster – Hunter Kiel and Doug Norman.
Kiel, who threw only six innings this season, was picked by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round. Norman, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury in February, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 25th round.
Two LSU signees were drafted Wednesday – outfielder Daniel Cabrera from Baton Rouge Parkview High School and pitcher Nick Storz from Brooklyn (N.Y.). Cabrera was chosen in the 26th round by the San Diego Padres. Strorz was picked in the 31st round by the Detroit Tigers.
Overall, eight Tigers players were drafted – the same number as a year ago. However, there was a first in this season’s LSU draft class. For the first time in school history, four Tigers players were chosen in the first four rounds.
Junior pitcher Alex Lange was the one first-round choice by the Chicago Cubs. Junior rightfielder Greg Deichmann was selected in the second round by the Oakland A’s.
Senior middle infielders Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman were chosen in the fourth round. The St. Louis Cardinals picked Robertson and the Washington Nationals drafted Freeman.
Two years ago, the Tigers had three players picked in the first four rounds – Alex Bregman (first round/Houston Astros), Andrew Stevenson (second round/Washington) and Kade Scivicque (fourth round/Detroit). Bregman is already in the major leagues with the Astros.
Two LSU players were chosen in the ninth round – pitcher Jared Poche by Oakland and catcher Michael Papierski by Houston. Then, Kiel and Norman were selected Wednesday.
So, five juniors were drafted with the only surprise being Norman due to his injured elbow. Tigers coach Paul Mainieri was expecting Lange, Deichmann and Papierski to not return for their senior seasons.
There were six LSU signees who were picked by major league organizations. Once again, Mainieri was not caught off guard.
Mainieri expected to lose pitcher Nate Pearson (first round/Toronto Blue Jays), pitcher Blayne Enlow (third round/Minnesota Twins), outfielder Jacob Pearson (third round/Los Angeles Angels) and third baseman Andrew Bechtold (fifth round/Minnesota). Nate Pearson and Bechtold are JC players.
The pro scouts had Cabrera and Storz rated as the next two best Tigers signees. Cabrera and Storz were picked, but both went in later rounds. As a result, Cabrera and Storz indicated Wednesday that they will enroll at LSU.