MLB First Year Players Draft Wraps with Five IMG Academy Baseball Alumni Selected

The Major League Baseball (MLB) First Year Player’s Draft took place this week, and five IMG Academy baseball alumni were selected, including two members of the 2018 Varsity team and notably one football alumnus. 

• RHP Levi Kelly (class of 2018) – 9th round (249th) – Arizona Diamondbacks 
• SS Blaze Alexander (class of 2018) – 11th round (339th) – Arizona Diamondbacks
• SS L.T. Tolbert (class of 2015; South Carolina) – 13th round (399th) – Arizona Diamondbacks 
• RHP Brian Rapp (class of 2014; Boston College) – 26th round (784 overall) – Minnesota Twins 
• 1B Nick Patten (class of 2016; Delaware) – 28th round (834th) – Pittsburgh Pirates 
• 3B Shea Patterson (class of 2016; Michigan) – 39th round (1,169th) – Texas Rangers 

Over the past 14 MLB Drafts, 31 alumni have been selected, including this year’s wave of draftees. Some of those players include the youngest player in Draft history, Alfredo Escalera (Kansas City Royals), John Ryan Murphy (Minnesota Twins) and Logan Allen (San Diego Padres). 

Levi Kelly and Blaze Alexander, who received their diplomas at the 2018 Commencement Ceremony on June 1, had signed National Letters of Intent with Louisiana State University and South Carolina, respectively. Kelly went 6-1 on the year with a 1.40 ERA and 76 strikeouts, both team bests, in 9 total appearances. Alexander, meanwhile, maintained a .403 average (31-of-77) at the plate and belted 8 homeruns, both team bests.  

LT Tolbert is having his best collegiate season as a junior with South Carolina. Tolbert has helped guide the Gamecocks to the NCAA Super Regionals on the heels of a 36-24 season. Tolbert started all 60 games for South Carolina and is third on the team in batting average, going 75-of-233 (.322), while leading the team with 51 RBI on the year. 

Notably, Shea Patterson played football for IMG and recently transferred to the Michigan Wolverines for his junior season. He began his collegiate career with the University of Mississippi after graduating from IMG Academy as the No. 1 QB in the nation and earning U.S. Army All-American Game MVP honors. Patterson has not played organized baseball since his junior year of high school. He confirmed to the Detroit Free Press that he will play football for the Wolverines this fall. 
 

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