Junior Matt Crocker became the third-highest MLB Draft pick in program history on Tuesday.
NEW YORK — Junior pitcher Matt Crocker became the first Roadrunner to be chosen in this year's Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft when the Colorado Rockies called his name in the 12th round (380th overall) on Tuesday.
Crocker, the 25th pick of the 12th round, became the third-highest selection in the program's 19-year history behind Mark Schramek (2002/first round/Cincinnati Reds) and Jeff Hutzler (1995/10th round/San Francisco Giants). Tenth-year head coach Sherman Corbett now has seen 13 of his players drafted and the program now has a total of 21 in school annals.
A 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-hander, Crocker is coming off an injury-shortened (foot) junior season that saw him post a 2-3 record and a 5.17 ERA in eight starts. The Kingwood native posted a sterling 42-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 47 innings in what was his first year as a starter. He did not appear in a game after his April 2 assignment at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which allowed him to earn a medical redshirt, and will enter next spring with two years of eligibility remaining.
Crocker has appeared in 34 games during his three-year career and owns an 8-6 ledger to go along with a 4.63 ERA, 89 punchouts and 28 walks in 93.1 innings of work as a Roadrunner.
"This is a dream come true," Crocker said from Fort Valley, Va., where he is playing in the Valley Baseball Summer League. "When my phone didn't ring all day, I started to get disappoined, but then I found out on the Internet that I was picked, so that quickly changed to excitement. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I defintiely am in a win-win situation. I wouldn't be where I am right now if Coach Corbett didn't take a chance on me three years ago and turn me into the pitcher I am today. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity he has given me."
"I'm excited for Matt, but while this is a huge honor, he will have to make a very informed decision on whether to go back to school or sign a professional contract," Corbett said. "Though it is in our program's best interest to have Matt return to school, I want him to make the decision that is best for his career."
The MLB Draft concludes on Wednesday.