Losing both of their Big Ten Tournament games and their first two Oxford Regional games, the 2019 season ended with a whimper for the normally tough Illini baseball team. For some players, there is still exciting times ahead this year. The MLB Draft starts tonight!
Here is the draft schedule courtesy of FightingIllini.com:
Monday, June 3 – Day 1
5 p.m. CT – Draft preview show on MLB Network and MLB.com
6 p.m. CT – Rounds 1-2 on MLB Network and MLB.comTuesday, June 4 – Day 2
12 p.m. CT – Rounds 3-10 on MLB.comWednesday, June 5 – Day 3
11 a.m. CT – Rounds 11-40 on MLB.com
The Illini hopes to see a few of their players over the next few days. It’s not too much of a stretch to predict that junior second baseman Michael Massey (above) will be drafted. In fact, the hot-hitting, fine-fielding Brother Rice alum is projected as a top-ten prospect for this year draft.
The draft process will be nothing new for four current Illini. Three Illini, Zac Taylor, Jacob Campbell and Aidan Maldonado were chosen in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft. As an Illini junior, Taylor was picked in the 36th round but chose to stick around for his senior year.
Also last year, Campbell and Maldonado were drafted out of their respective high schools. Campbell was drafted by the Cubs organization in the 36th round from Craig HS in Janesville, Wisconsin. Maldonado was taken in the 38th round by the Brewers from Rosemount (MN) HS.
And going back to 2016, Ty Weber was drafted out of Menomonie (WI) HS by the Reds in the 34th round.
Weber, Campbell and Maldonado individually decided to further their development in an academic setting at the University of Illinois. As freshmen, Maldonado and Campbell are not eligible for the draft. Fortunately for Illini fans, they will be with the team for at least two years.
Weber, who has now finished with the Illini, has a chance to move ahead in this year’s draft along with a host of others.
To follow this year’s MLB Amateur Draft, head on over to the MLB Draft Tracker.
Good luck to this year’s Illini!