Spencer, Tygart, Foeller picked in MLB draft

July 16 – Three baseball players with DeSoto County backgrounds were among those selected in Tuesday’s second day of the Major League Baseball Entry Draft.  

Former Northwest pitcher and current Ole Miss closer Connor Spencer of Hernando was chosen by the Oakland Athletics in the 16th round as the 466th overall pick. This year’s version of the MLB Draft has 20 rounds and 615 total selections.

We got a draft pick!

Connor Spencer (Ole Miss) has been selected by the @Athletics in the 16th round of the #MLBDraft! #ALLN

📰 https://t.co/YubJk9pLOo pic.twitter.com/FfpTYoKPgv

— Northwest Baseball (@NWCCBaseball) July 16, 2024

Despite being taken by the A’s organization, Spencer announced Monday evening on his social media accounts of his intent to return to Ole Miss next season. He made 18 appearances for the Rebels last season, leading the team with seven saves and held opposing hitters to a .194 batting average, with 28 strikeouts. 

With the 357th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Boston Red Sox select Brady Tygart, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Arkansas! pic.twitter.com/zXCwEy9zBB

— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) July 16, 2024

Elsewhere, Brady Tygart of Arkansas, who prepped at Lewisburg, was picked in the 12th round by the Boston Red Sox and Aiden Foeller, of Southern Illinois, Northeast Mississippi Community College and DeSoto Central, was chosen in the 11th round by the Dodgers. 

BSB | @NEMCCBASEBALL alumnus Aidan Foeller was selected with the 25th pick of the @MLBDraft’s 11th round (340th overall) by the @Dodgers.

Foeller, who made 2️⃣3️⃣ pitching appearances over 3️⃣ seasons at #NEMCC, just completed his junior season with @SIU_Baseball!

🐯 #TigerTown pic.twitter.com/f87E9rRO84

— Northeast Tigers (@NEMCCTigers) July 16, 2024