Right-handed pitcher Niko Mazza was the first Southern Miss player to be taken in the year’s MLB Draft.
The San Francisco Giants selected Mazza as the No. 238th overall pick in the eighth round. Mazza’s pick has draft-slot value of $218,000, according to MLB.com.
It’s the fourth straight year now that a Southern Miss player was taken in the draft and the 11th time in the last 12 years.
In the last two years, Mazza has primarily been a weekend starter for the Golden Eagles. This past year, the junior posted a 3.99 ERA, struck out 95 batters and walked 36 in 90.1 innings of work earning him second-team Sun Belt All-Conference honors. Mazza’s fastball sits between 94-95 mph, which is complimented by his breaking pitch.
Arguably his best outing of the season came in the Knoxville Regional when Mazza threw his first career complete game against Northern Kentucky to send the Golden Eagles to the regional final.
The Madison-Ridgeland Academy alum finished his collegiate career with a 4.17 ERA, a 14-5 record and 190 strikeouts.
Notably, Southern Miss signee DJ Layton was taken 189th pick in the sixth round by the Baltimore Orioles. The South Carolina native’s pick hold a draft slot value of $318,300.
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