Six UNC baseball players were selected on day 3 of the 2019 MLB Draft, bringing this season’s total to nine
Six University of North Carolina baseball players were selected on day 3 of the 2019 MLB Draft, bringing the school’s total to nine this year — one shy of the program record set a season ago.
After junior first baseman Michael Busch was taken in the draft’s first round — 31st overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers — right-handed pitcher Tyler Baum was selected 66th by the Oakland Athletics. Then came 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior starter Austin Bergner, who was taken on the second day of the draft by the Detroit Tigers, 262nd overall.
On day 3 of the draft, Ike Freeman, Brandon Martorano, Ashton McGee, Hansen Butler, Joey Lancellotti and Gianluca Dalatri were all taken.
Freeman was taken in the 14th round by the Cleveland Indians, 430th overall. He’s batting .294 with six home runs and 48 RBIs on the season. Freeman has collected 50 walks to just 29 strikeouts, as well as being a terrific defender for the Tar Heels.
Martorano was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 16th round of the draft, pick 476. He’s currently batting .254 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs for the year. He’s been the team’s top catcher in 2019.
McGee was was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers with pick No. 553 in the 18th round. He’s got a .265 batting average with six home runs and 41 RBIs on the season. He’s played multiple positions on the UNC infield this season, and been a steady defensive presence at each.
Butler was selected with pick No. 740 in the 25th round by the Chicago White Sox. The senior right-hander has been terrific for the Tar Heels this season, carrying a 1.80 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 20 innings.
Lancellotti, the sophomore righty out of William Penn Charter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was taken by the New York Yankees with the 1,035th pick in round 34. He’s got a 6-2 record with a 2.08 ERA, and struck out 56 batters over 52 innings.
Dalatri was picked by the Detroit Tigers with pick No. 1,192 of the 40th round. After being named a preseason All-American, Dalatri underwent season-ending hip surgery. He posted a 2.25 ERA in six appearances, going 1-1 and recording 35 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Stick with Keeping It Heel for complete coverage of the Tar Heels’ best-of-3 series against the Auburn Tigers beginning on Saturday.