Indiana Baseball Starters Saalfrank and Gordon Selected in Sixth Round of MLB Draft

Indiana starting pitchers flew off the MLB Draft board in fast succession in the sixth round on Tuesday afternoon.

With the 182nd overall pick, the Arizona Diamondback chose left-hander Andrew Saalfrank.

🌵🌵🌵@Ballfrank_23 | #IUBase pic.twitter.com/qkmeMFUoIB

— Indiana Baseball (@IndianaBase) June 4, 2019

Just five picks later, right-hander Tanner Gordon was chosen by the Atlanta Braves.

Just five picks after Saalfrank, our Saturday starter gets the call.@TannerGordon53 | #IUBase pic.twitter.com/u5VvNWT6hv

— Indiana Baseball (@IndianaBase) June 4, 2019

Saalfrank and Gordon became the 96th and 97th Hoosiers taken in the MLB Draft all-time, respectively.  Indiana outfielder Matt Gorski was the 95th, taken in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Although Saalfrank was IU’s Sunday starter, he emerged as the staff ace as the season wore on.  By the time the 2019 campaign came to an end, Saalfrank was the Big Ten’s Pitcher of the Year and a second team All-American.

The Hoagland, Ind. native was a strikeout machine, with 10 or more K’s in 5 of his 12 starts.  Saalfrank hit his high mark of 14 strikeouts twice during the season.

Saalfrank finished the season 8-1 with a 2.84 earned run average.  He struck out 98 hitters in 73 innings of work while walking just 26.

Gordon came to IU from John A. Logan College this year.  The Champaign, Ill. native finished the season 6-5 with a 3.39 earned run average.  He had 90 strikeouts in 85 innings while walking just 18.

Gordon allowed three hits or fewer in seven of his 16 starts in IU’s Saturday starter role.

All three Hoosiers chosen thus far in the draft are juniors and eligible to return to Bloomington.

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