McDonald chosen on second day of MLB Draft

Hokies pitcher is the eighth-highest Tech draft choice since 2000

June 5, 2018

BLACKSBURG – During the second day of the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Virginia Tech pitcher Andrew McDonald was selected in the ninth round by the Cincinnati Reds with the 259th overall pick to become the 19th highest Hokie ever chosen in the MLB Draft.

The senior righthander, ironcially from Cincinnati, Ohio, is the fifth Hokie to be picked by the Reds in draft history, which includes four other pitchers as well – Doug Horton (358th pick, 1971 draft), Greg Margheim (652, 1990), Eddie Campbell (1,327, 2010 out of high school) and last year's pick of Packy Naughton, who beat McDonald by two selections - drafted in 2017 by the Reds at number 257.

Since former Tech pitcher Joe Saunders – a 10-year MLB veteran – was the highest ever pick from the school, the 12th overall pick by the Anaheim Angels in the 2002 draft, the Hokies have seen just six of its players chosen earlier in the draft than McDonald's 259th selection in 2018. Those men include current Oakland Athletics Chad Pinder (71st pick, 2013 draft), current triple-A player Mark Zagunis (78, 2014), former triple-A player Austin Wates (90, 2010), current Kansas City Royal Jesse Hahn (191, 2010), former double-A player Tyler Horan (252, 2013) and Naughton.

For more information on the Hokies’ history in the draft, CLICK HERE, which includes 112 total draft selections.

The 2018 draft will continue with rounds 11-40 on Wednesday, June 6 starting at Noon with the Hokies looking to see another player’s name called to continue a streak of having at least two players selected in each of the last 10 drafts.

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