Right-handed junior starter Taylor Jungmann of NCAA Super Regional-bound Texas was the lone player from the Big 12 Conference selected in the first round of the 2011 MLB amateur draft. Representative of the National League Milwaukee Brewers called his name as the Brewers top pick in this year’s draft and the the 12th player selected overall.
The Longhorn staff ace appeared in 17 games this season, 16 of them starts, and has compiled a 13-1 record with 120 strikeouts and a 1.39 earned run average for the season. Opponents are hitting just .167 off Jungmann, who has given up only 75 hits and yielded just 29 bases on balls in 129 1/3 innings pitched. For his career, Jungmann has a record of 32-7 and a 1.65 ERA.
Jungmann and his Texas Teammates are one of 16 teams across the country who are headed to second-round NCAA Championship action this week. The Longhorns, ranked fifth nationally in the most recent USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll will host one of the Super Regionals this weekend, taking on Arizona State (42-16). This will be Texas’ eighth appearance in the baseball Super Regionals.
The winners at the eight Super Regional sites will advance to the 2011 College World Series. The Longhorns took the Big 12 regular-season championship this year, putting together an overall season record of 47-16.
The Big 12 has had at least one player selected in the opening round of the MLB annual draft the past nine consecutive seasons and 12 times in the 15-year history of the conference. Over the past five years, 50 or more Big 12 ballplayers have been taken in the first round.
The 2011 MLB draft continues today, beginning at 11 a.m., with rounds 2-30. Rounds 31-50 will commence at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.