Texas Tech University Athletics
Withrow Selected in Sixth Round by Atlanta Braves
June 09, 2015 | Baseball
June 9, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech junior right-handed pitcher Matt Withrow was the first Red Raider chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday as he was selected with the 180th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves.
Withrow's selection in the sixth round marks the 28th-straight year where a Red Raider has been chosen in the MLB Draft or signed a free agent contract. He is the 36th player all-time to be drafted within the first 10 rounds.
This is the fourth-straight year where a Red Raider has gone in the first six rounds of the draft, marking the longest such streak since 2000 when Tech went eight-straight years with at least a sixth round selection.
Withrow, a native of Odessa, Texas, is the first Red Raider selected by the Braves since former infielder Nick Popescu was picked in the 33rd round of the 2011 draft. Atlanta had not previously used a top-10 round pick to draft a Red Raider since left-handed pitcher Pat McKean was selected No. 83 overall (fourth round) in 1971.
His selection continues a trend of Red Raider pitchers going early in the draft as Tech has had a hurler picked in the top six rounds in each of the past three years (Chris Sadberry - 6th Round/2014; Trey Masek - 5th Round/2013).
Withrow, who was previously selected in the 37th round by the Texas Rangers out of high school, finished 1-1 with a career-best 3.63 earned-run average this past season as he totaled 22.1 innings in 13 appearances including one start.
During his three seasons as a Red Raider, Withrow has compiled a 9-7 overall record to go along with a 5.38 ERA in 117 total innings. He has struck out 119 hitters during that span as well while being used as both a starter and out of the bullpen.
Tech had another signee from its 2015 signing class drafted earlier in the day as Justin Maese (El Paso, Texas/Ysleta H.S.) was selected with the 91st overall pick (third round) by the Toronto Blue Jays.
6 (180): @Braves select Texas Tech RHP Matt Withrow. http://t.co/vCnPqA9U7h #MLBDraft
- MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) June 9, 2015
