The SEC produced a total of 9 first-round picks in this year’s MLB Draft.
While the full draft won’t be complete until Sunday, the first round is already in the books. A total of 40 picks were made in the opening round after accounting for Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) and Competitive Balance Round-A selections.
Here’s the full list of SEC products selected in the first round:
- Outfielder Derek Curiel | LSU | Pittsburgh Pirates
- Shortstop Tyler Bell | Kentucky | Colorado Rockies
- Second baseman Chris Hacopian | Texas A&M | Washington Nationals
- Catcher Ryder Helfrick | Arkansas | Arizona Diamondbacks
- Shortstop Justin Lebron | Alabama | Cincinnati Reds
- Pitcher Liam Peterson | Florida | Cleveland Guardians
- Pitcher Cade Townsend | Ole Miss | Chicago Cubs
- Third baseman Ace Reese | Mississippi State | Seattle Mariners
- Pitcher Carson Wiggins | Arkansas | New York Mets
- Pitcher Taylor Rabe | Ole Miss | Kansas City Royals
- Pitcher Tegan Kuhns | Tennessee | St. Louis Cardinals
- Pitcher Hunter Dietz | Arkansas | New York Yankees
- Catcher Daniel Jackson | Georgia | Colorado Rockies
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Curiel has long been thought of as a potential first-round pick in this draft. He ended up going No. 5 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who will hope he can be fast-tracked to the majors to play alongside another LSU legend in Paul Skenes.
Bell landed at No. 10 overall, going to the Colorado Rockies. Kentucky baseball coach Nick Mingione has now produced 4 first-round picks during his tenure in Lexington. Bell is just the second ex-Kentucky player to be picked in the top 10 of the MLB Draft (Chad Green in 1996 was the other).
Hacopian went 1 pick later, going No. 11 overall to the Washington Nationals. The Aggies have now produced first-round selections in three consecutive MLB Drafts.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
