Four Tigers Chosen On Second Day Of MLB Draft
CLEMSON, S.C. - Four Tigers were selected on the second day (rounds 3-10) of the MLB draft on Monday afternoon. The third and final day of the MLB draft is Tuesday (rounds 11-20).
Senior infielder Blake Wright was chosen in the fourth round (No. 106 overall) by the Colorado Rockies, junior righty Austin Gordon was selected in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) by the Los Angeles Angels, junior outfielder Will Taylor was drafted in the fifth round (No. 145 overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates and sophomore lefty Tristan Smith was chosen in the fifth round (No. 150 overall) by the Cincinnati Reds.
The four draft picks in the first five rounds marked the first time since the 2007 MLB draft that Clemson accomplished that feat. The Tigers also tied for third in the nation in 2024 draft picks in the first five rounds, behind only Tennessee (7) and Wake Forest (5).
Wright (Belleair, Fla.), the first Tiger drafted by the Rockies since 2020 (Sam Weatherly), was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award in 2024 while he split time at third base and second base. The team co-captain hit .340 with 10 doubles, two triples, 22 homers, 75 RBIs, 68 runs and a .652 slugging percentage as the only Tiger to play all 60 games. Wright led or tied for the team lead in games, batting average, runs, hits (87), homers, RBIs and total bases (167). He also had a .959 fielding percentage, committing only seven errors in 171 chances. In his four-year Tiger career, Wright hit .303 with 31 doubles, two triples, 42 homers, 165 RBIs, 137 runs and nine steals in 176 games (169 starts).
Gordon (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), the first Tiger drafted by the Angels since 2018 (Mitchell Miller), started the season as a weekend starter, but became the predominant closer in 2024. He was 2-2 with 11 saves, a 4.35 ERA, .223 opponents’ batting average and 53 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched over 22 appearances in 2024, while his 11 saves tied for third most in a season in Tiger history. In his 17 relief outings, he had a 2.19 ERA, .131 opponents’ batting average and 35 strikeouts against nine walks in 24.2 innings pitched. In his career, he is 5-6 with 13 saves, a 4.64 ERA and .235 opponents’ batting average in 151.1 innings pitched over 55 appearances (21 starts).
Taylor (Irmo, S.C.), the first Tiger drafted by the Pirates since 2019 (Kyle Wilkie), hit .230 with seven homers, a triple, two doubles, 19 RBIs, 28 runs and six steals in 32 games in 2024, as his season was cut short due to an injury suffered on April 14. He had a .465 on-base percentage thanks to 33 walks and 11 hit-by-pitches and finished the season on a 26-game on-base streak. In his career, he is hitting .313 with 18 doubles, three triples, 13 homers, 69 RBIs, 109 runs, a .470 on-base percentage and 18 steals in 107 games (105 starts).
Smith (Boiling Springs, S.C.), the first Tiger drafted by the Reds since 2021 (Carter Raffield), emerged as a weekend starter in 2024, when he was 2-1 with a 4.47 ERA, .250 opponents’ batting average and 66 strikeouts against 32 walks in 50.1 innings pitched over 12 starts, as he missed four weekend series from March to April due to injury. In his career, he is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, .237 opponents’ batting average and 109 strikeouts in 82.0 innings pitched over 36 appearances (18 starts).
One Tiger signee was drafted on Monday. Infielder Chase Harlan (Doylestown, Pa.) was selected in the third round (No. 98 overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
