June 13, 2016
Three more Commodores heard their name called on the final day of the major league baseball draft with Jason Delay, John Kilichowski and Will Toffey all being selected.
Delay was the first Dore off the board on Saturday going to the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round (335th overall). The Johns Creek, Ga. native put together his most productive season in black and gold, starting a career-high 45 games while taking over the majority of the team’s catching duties. Delay hit .248 with 10 doubles, one home run and 31 RBI in his junior season. Delay joins teammate Bryan Reynolds, who was selected in the second round by the Giants, and former Commodore Tyler Beede (2014 1st round pick) in the Giants’ organization.
Kilichowski was tabbed just 11 picks after Delay in the 11th round at 346th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals. The lefty missed the majority of his junior campaign due to a preseason injury but pitched in 10 games and made a pair of starts for the Dores down the stretch. The lefty from Tampa, Fla. went 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA during the season. He is the first VU player selected by the Cardinals since Chase Reid in 2010.
Toffey was the final Commodore selected on the last day of the Draft when the Baltimore Orioles picked him in the 25th round (751st overall). The draft eligible sophomore, started all but one of the Commodores’ 62 games this season at third base and was one of just three players on the Dores’ roster to appear in all 62 games this year. The Barnstable, Mass. native hit .227 with a league-leading 51 walks this season. Toffey joins former Dore Mike Yastrzemski in the O’s system after Yastrzemski was a 14th round selection of Baltimore in 2013.
Vanderbilt’s six players selected in the 2016 MLB Draft give the Commodores at least five drafted players in 10 straight drafts dating back to 2007 when David Price became the program’s first No. 1 pick. Overall, 137 Commodores have been drafted all-time.