APSU Baseball had four players selected in the 2016 MLB First-Year Players Draft on Saturday, June 11.
Junior catcher Ridge Smith was selected first in the 12th round, 372nd pick to the Toronto Blue Jays. Smith was drafted after high school in 2013 to the Cleveland Indians in the 29th round, but declined and came to APSU instead.
Next up in the draft was Logan Gray. Gray, an all Ohio Valley Conference First Team utility player was drafted to the Kansas City Royals, fitting for the Kansas native.
The next had to wait for a conference call later in the afternoon to hear the selection.
Junior infielder Garrett Copeland was selected in the the 30th round as the 901st pick, by the Baltimore Orioles.
Senior pitcher Jared Carkuff, an OVC First Team and OVC Championship First Team went in the 35th as the 1,062nd pick, also to the Blue Jays. Carkuff entered the draft after his junior year, but was not drafted and returned for his senior season.
According to letsgopeay.com, the Govs were only one shy of the record that was set in 2013 when five players were selected.
Along with the four from APSU, 10 other players were drafted from the OVC, a conference record.
