Broussard gets selected in 15th round
Pre-draft meetings were a little bit of a disappointment for LSU closer Joe Broussard.
Many major league scouts indicated to Broussard that he may be chosen around the 15th round. Tigers coach Paul Mainieri believed that Broussard would be drafted around the tenth round.
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Broussard was selected in the 15th round Saturday by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Broussard must now decide if he wants to take a probable minimal signing bonus or return for his senior year at LSU.
There would be little leverage for Broussard next June as a fifth-year senior. However, he doesn't have much now considering where he was drafted and his age. Broussard turned 23 years old in January.
Rebounding from Tommy John surgery, Broussard replaced Chris Cotton as the Tigers' closer. He posted a 3-2 record with eight saves and a 1.05 earned run average. Broussard, who made 32 appearances, walked 17 and struck out 37 in 34 innings.
One LSU signee was drafted before Broussard on Saturday. Pitcher Jake Latz from Lemont (Ill.) was picked in the 11th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. It will be interesting to see the amount of money Toronto will offer Latz as a signing bonus.
Catcher Michael Papierski, a teammate of Latz, was also chosen by the Blue Jays. Toronto drafted Papierski in the 16th round. Two Tigers signees - pitchers Mac Marshall from Lilburn (Ga.) and Jake Godfrey from New Lenox (Ill.) - were selected in the 21st round.
Marshall, projected to be a second-round pick, was drafted by the Houston Astros. Marshall said on Friday that he will attend LSU. Godfrey was picked to be an outfielder by the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta also drafted LSU signee shortstop Grayson Byrd in the 39th round.
Two seniors were selected in the late rounds. Outfielder Sean McMullen was drafted in the 30th round by Houston. Six rounds later, the Detroit Tigers picked pitcher Nate Fury.