Richmond Hills’ Kevin Matthews was selected as the 33rd pick in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers on Monday, and as the selection process continued, other notable local players were selected as well.
During Tuesday’s second round, Wayne County Yellow Jackets second baseman Tyler Palmer was drafted by the Florida Marlins. According to the Marlins’ website, Palmer also saw time at shortstop and on the mound. In a regional title game, the 2012 University of Georgia recruit allowed just three hits and struck out nine.
According to an article posted on the Press Sentinel’s website, Palmer had worked out last week for the Marlins and landed where he wanted to play.
“This is the team I wanted to play for,” he told the Sentinel. “It is closer to home, and I am excited and ready to go. I’ll report to Jupiter, Fla., but not sure exactly when. They start us all out in Single A. Starting date and pay and all that still has to be negotiated out.”
The Sentinel reported Palmer is the reigning Region 2-AAAA Player of the Year. He lettered all four years at WCHS. He has been named to the all-region first team since his freshman year. He also had a scholarship offer to play baseball at the University of Georgia.
A few Georgia Southern Eagles also were selected in the draft.
According to GSU’s media relations department, junior pitcher Matt Murray became the first member of the Georgia Southern Baseball team to be selected in the 2011 MLB draft when the Kansas City Royals picked him with the fifth selection of the 10th round. The Royals, who recently called up former Eagles pitcher Everett Teaford, took Murray with the 306th pick of the draft.
Senior pitcher Andy Moye cashed in on a fine senior season and was drafted in the 15th round of the 2011 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. Moye, a 50th-round selection of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010, was the 461st pick overall and improved 35 rounds over last year’s selection.
Shawn Payne was the first Eagle taken on day three of the 2011 MLB draft. Payne, like Moye, saw his draft stock rise after returning for his senior year. Payne was the 1,077 overall pick of the 2011 draft and 35th-round selection of the San Francisco Giants.
Georgia Southern baseball signee Sam Howard of Cartersville High School was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 48th round of the 2011 MLB draft Wednesday. He signed with the Eagles in the fall to play for GSU in the 2012 season.