June 5, 2018
NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt’s big weekend officially extended into the midweek as eight Commodores heard their names called — including two during the third round — of the Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Connor Kaiser, SS – 3rd round (Pittsburgh)
- Reid Schaller, RHP – 3rd round (Washington)
- Chandler Day, RHP – 7th round (Washington)
- Maddux Conger, RHP – 22nd round (Detroit)
- Justin Wilson, RHP – 23rd round (N.Y. Yankees)
- Alonzo Jones, OF – 25th round (Oakland)
- Ethan Paul, SS – 26th round (Pittsburgh)
- Stephen Scott, OF – 31st round (Miami)
Vanderbilt shortstop Connor Kaiser was selected with the 86th pick in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday afternoon. Kaiser becomes the 34th Vandy infielder to hear his named called in the draft.
The news comes two days after Kaiser was named NCAA Clemson Regional Most Valuable Player. In Sunday’s 19-6 victory against Clemson, the Overland Park, Kan., native matched an NCAA Tournament record with 10 RBIs while belting three home runs.
Kaiser leads the Black and Gold with 14 multi-hit games this season and has been equally as consistent in the field, posting a .991 fielding percentage while committing just two errors in 228 total chances.
The Blue Valley West High School product has started 146 of the last 149 games at shortstop for the Dores. A season ago, Kaiser finished fourth on the squad with 25 walks alongside a .317 on-base percentage.
Vanderbilt redshirt freshman Reid Schaller was selected by the Washington Nationals with the 101st pick in the third round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday.
The right-hander owns a 1-1 record and 4.05 ERA while matching a team-best 19 appearances this season. Schaller has struck out 36 batters while permitting just eight walks in 26.2 innings.
In his last nine outings, the Lebanon, Ind., native has fanned a combined 21 batters. Schaller has also made two starts for the Dores this season, including retiring all nine Evansville hitters he faced on April 17.
The Lebanon High School product, who has fanned multiple batters in 10 of his 19 appearances, becomes the second Vanderbilt player in as many years to be selected by the Pirates. A season ago, catcher Jason Delay was picked up by the organization in the fourth round.
Vandy’s Chandler Day joined Schaller with the Nationals as the right-hander was selected with the 221st pick in the seventh round on Tuesday afternoon.
Day (1-1, 3.22 ERA) picked up a pair of saves at the NCAA Clemson Regional and has not allowed an earned run in his last 10 appearances. During that 13-inning stretch, the Granville, Ohio, native has permitted just four hits while striking out 16 batters.
Day, who was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 30th round of out high school, posted a 7-2 record with a 3.78 ERA in 13 appearances and 12 starts a season ago.
Maddux Conger was selected in the 22nd round of the draft on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the fourth Vandy player to be chosen. The right-hander was taken with the 645th overall pick by the Detroit Tigers. The reliever is the second player in as many years to be selected by the Tigers, joining Ro Coleman.
The Stephenville, Texas, native, who tossed a scoreless inning at the NCAA Clemson Regional, has not permitted a run in six of his last seven outings and has not allowed more than one earned run in all 11 appearances.
Moments later, Justin Wilson was selected in the 23rd round by the New York Yankees. The right-hander was picked up with the 697th overall pick, becoming the fourth Commodore pitcher to be taken in the draft.
The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native has posted a 2.94 ERA in seven appearances this season. Wilson has fanned six nine batters in 6.1 innings after missing the entire 2017 season while recovering from elbow surgery.
The Oakland Athletics selected outfielder Alonzo Jones with the 743rd overall pick in the 25th round. The Columbus, Ga., native ranks third on the team with 16 stolen bases in as many attempts and has batted .236 with a team-best three triples in 37 games.
Jones has produced four multi-hit games and two multi-RBI games despite missing time of late due to injury. The Columbus High School product has recorded a hit in 12 of his last 19 games. He was named a freshman all-American by Collegiate Baseball in 2016 and in high school recorded the fastest 60-yard dash time on grass (6.17) at Perfect Game.
Ethan Paul was selected with the 774th overall pick in the 26th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The junior, who was drafted as a shortstop, was named to the NCAA Clemson Regional All-Tournament team and has started 107 consecutive games for the Commodores at second base.
Paul ranks second on the team in RBIs (41) and is tied for second in doubles (12). He is one of two players to start all 59 games this season. The Bellevue, Wash., native finished third on the team with 15 doubles in 2017 and was named a freshman all-American in 2016.
Stephen Scott was picked up with the 927th overall pick in the 31st round by the Miami Marlins. The Cary, N.C., native, who was selected as an outfielder, batted .400 (4-for-10) with two home runs and five runs at the NCAA Clemson Regional.
Scott has belted eight home runs in his last 11 games, including two on Sunday at Clemson. The Cardinal Gibbons High School product was named a Collegiate Baseball national player of the week on May 14 and May 21. This season, he has batted an impressive .319 with runners in scoring position.
VANDERBILT IN THE MLB DRAFT
At least one Commodore has been selected in the MLB Draft every year since 1991 with a total of 100 signing professional contracts. Kaiser became the 146th Vandy player to be drafted all-time and fourth VU shortstop since 2012. Schaller, Day, Conger and Wilson upped the total to 92 Commodore pitchers selected all-time including 59 in the Tim Corbin era.
